Henmania reigns but fans suffer agonies

Swiss teenager Roger Federer must have felt like a gladiator fighting the whole Coliseum as 14,000 British fans roared on "Tiger Tim" Henman.

And he almost spoiled the script for a sports-mad country gripped by its annual attack of "Henmania".

With the weight of the whole nation on his shoulders, Henman seized up with victory in sight on Wednesday but hung in there to win 7-5 7-6 2-6 7-6.

"I was as tight as a drum," he confessed after making the British sweat for more than three hours before they could hail their hero with a deafening roar and a standing ovation.

Since the glory days of Fred Perry, the British have waited 65 lean years for a tennis champion.

Wimbledon's Centre Court fluttered under a sea of red, white and blue Union Jack flags. Just one Swiss flag was waved by a lonely supporter of Federer, who in the last round had conquered the mighty Pete Sampras.

Hearts were all a-flutter in two tingling tie-breaks.

"Come on Tiger," the fans cried. "Go Tiger," they yelled.

"You are going to win Wimbledon," one shouted.

For two weeks a year, the British are obsessed by Wimbledon.

And every year, Tim Henman is the centre of that obsession. He is front page news every day. "Day of Destiny" scream the banner headlines.

Even the garbage collectors outside Wimbledon have a "Henman 2 Win" sticker on their truck.

John McEnroe had urged the reticent Henman to make more of an effort to pump up the Centre Court crowd.

If he had tried any harder with his cheer-leading on Wednesday, the roof might come off Centre Court.

Tim Henman has been in love with Wimbledon since he first came to the world's most famous tennis tournament as a little boy of five.

And few would argue with his conclusion: "The atmosphere on Centre Court is certainly as good as it gets.

"There was so much pressure out there and you just have to deal with it," he said.