1 Response to wb04henman_philippoussis

1. Voo de Mar says:

   July 28, 2022 at 11:52 am

   Points won directly behind the serve:
   32 % Henman – 45 of 137
   39 % Philippoussis – 56 of 142

   One of the last all-serve-and-volley matches in the second week of Wimbledon (albeit Henman [6] stayed back a few times behind his serves). Philippoussis [17] had had lost his serve twice in his first three matches that year at Wimbledon, but against Henman, he was already broken twice in his first three service games – for the second time in a really bad style committing 3 consecutive double faults at 1:3! In the 3rd set, the Australian leading 6:5* (30-all) couldn’t agree with a decision that awarded a game point to Henman, and got a code violation for obscenity. The argue with Enric Molina helped him though, because he quickly built a 4:0 lead in the ensuing tie-break winning it 7/3. In the 4th set Henman needed five match points: a double MP came as he led 5:2* (40/15) – the first of them Philippoussis saved with a risky second serve winner, on the second one he forced Henman’s forehand error with a backhand volley. Henman stayed cool and converted his fifth MP to win the tie-break 7/5… Four years before, they’d met on the same Central Court in the fourth round as well, and Philippoussis prevailed in five sets then. He never reached a fourth round at majors again after Wimbledon 2004, retiring from the professional tour two years later…

   A week when I posted the picture for the first time on my website, he made his comeback-cameo to the ATP Tour after nine years, but in singles only in the qualifying event (Newport) – lost in the first round to an unknown player, Eric Quigley, in two tie-breaks. In doubles (w/Ryan Harrison) reached quarterfinals.
   

   Log in to Reply