Lion-hearted Lleyton Hewitt tore Tim Henman’s Wimbledon dreams to shreds on Friday, mauling the fourth seed 7-5, 6-1, 7-5 in a brutal and one-sided Centre Court semi-final. Not even the collective will of a success-starved nation could save home favourite Henman from the ferocious nature of Hewitt’s groundstrokes nor the burning intensity of the Australian’s desire as he ripped the match from under Henman’s nose in two hours, 19 minutes on Centre Court. Britain’s Tim Henman grimaces after missing his first serve while Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt exults after the win. (Reuters) ‘‘It’s just incredible,’’ Hewitt said. ‘‘Wimbledon means so much to all the Australians back home. I am kind of speechless right now. I mean, I just got on a roll.’’ The victory sweeps top seed and US Open champion Hewitt into his first Wimbledon final where he will face either Argentina’s David Nalbandian or Belgian Xavier Malisse. But for Henman it means an agonising fourth semi-final defeat here in five years. Henman had been bidding to become the first Briton to reach the final of the men’s singles since Bunny Austin in 1938. The last Briton to lift the trophy was Fred Perry two years earlier in 1936. But the disappointing defeat under grey rainy London skies spells yet another missed opportunity for Henman and the 27-year-old will have to wait at least one more year for a chance to fulfill his life’s dream. Despite serving and volleying with great fluidity and poise — as well as he has done all tournament at this year’s grasscourt Grand Slam — Henman simply had no answers for the ferocity and velocity of Hewitt’s returns and passing shots. Ripping into his shots with gusto, it was the Australian who started the stronger and Henman was unable to keep up with him as the match wore on. Hewitt, who had beaten Henman in all five of their previous clashes, edged a tight first set with some dogged retrieving and determined running before rain forced the pair off court after 70 minutes. The Australian led 7-5 and 3-0 when the players left the rain-splattered arena and when they returned an hour later he simply pulled away. A bout of quick-fire volleying and two return screamers brought up three break points in the sixth game and Hewitt converted the third when his backhand pass clipped the net and skipped past the stranded Henman at the net. Champion Hewitt calmly served out to take the second set 6-1 and leave Henman staring at the spectre of another painful defeat. Hewitt continued to strafe Henman’s side of the court witht racer bullet-like forehands in the third set and the Briton cracked once more in the third game. Facing increasing pressure on his serve, the Briton buckled and threw in his first double fault of the match to hand Hewitt his fifth break and a two-games-to-one lead in the third set. (Reuters)
