Henman focused on Wimbledon assault

DIVINING profound and lasting significance for the coming three weeks from the Stella Artois Championship concluded yesterday at Queen's Club is probably about as fruitful a task as counting raindrops, although given the number that fell during the week the latter is probably what most people did to pass the time.

Three days in all were lost to the Almighty's tears costing the tournament GBP 900,000 in refunded tickets, so it was something of an achievement when Scott Draper and Tim Hen-man's quarterfinal conqueror Laurence Tieleman stepped out for the final on time yesterday afternoon.

Given that they had a combined ranking of 361, it was also something of a surprise. Draper took an hour and 12 minutes to win his first tour title 7- 6, 6-4. Although if you count the four years since this talented Australian turned pro, it has taken a little longer than that for the player burdensomely dubbed the "next Rod Laver" to deliver the sort of result many believe his talents have deserved. If he were to translate this success on the grass of Queen's to the lawns of the All England Club, then he would add his name to the select gang of four - John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker and Pete Sampras - to have won the Stella and Wimbledon in the same year. Draper's record in SW19 consists unpromisingly of three firsts (round exits, that is). Still, he had only won four matches in 1998 before turning up at Queen's, so you never know. The truth, of course, is that the Stella will, in all probability, not provide any blueprint for Wimbledon fortnight other than giving a pretty good idea of just how miserable grass court tennis can be when the rain tips down. Until this year, Tim Henman had not made it past the third round at Queen's in four attempts but has reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon the last two years. This year he progressed to the quarterfinals at the Stella and looked in fine nick for much of the way, certainly in beating Goran Ivanisevic in the third round. He then chucked away a one set, 5-2 advantage and a brace of match points before losing to eventual finalist Tieleman. Henman, on whom British hopes for Wimbledon will now principally rest, says the flaws came in his concentration rather than in his tennis. "I was struggling with it all match," he said. "I know as well as anyone that a great opportunity has slipped by to win an English grass court championship. I'm still reflecting on it now. "But I wouldn't say it affects my preparation in any way because I'm hitting the ball well. I know I'm a better player than 12 months ago. That's why I'm disappointed at having lost at Queen's, but I wouldn't say it affects my chances for Wimbledon at all." The British No 2 has passed on a wild card for Nottingham and will instead spend this week on the practice courts. Meanwhile, Greg Rusedski, the British No 1, will be in Nottingham, but on the treatment table rather than on court defending his title. Rusedski will stay at his coach Tony Pickard's home while undergoing treatment on a torn ligament in his left ankle at the National Tennis Centre. A decision on his participation at Wimbledon, rated at 50-50 last Friday after falling during his third round match with Tieleman, is not expected until the weekend at the earliest, but much will depend on the speed of his recovery. Pete Sampras lost in the quarterfinals of the Stella Artois last year and went on to claim a fourth Wimbledon title in five years. This time, he fell in the third, but sees no reason why he cannot travel due south and win a fifth in six. His conqueror at Queen's, Mark Woodforde, senses a distraction in Sampras's game, but the world No 1 feels there was nothing unusual about his lacklustre dress rehearsal. "This tournament has always been a kind of wakeup call for me," he said. "Obviously the main goal is Wimbledon. It would have been nice to play some more matches and build up the confidence. I was disappointed (with Queen's) but not discouraged. I've had ups and downs here and then seemed to put it together for Wimbledon." In 1993 for example, the year of his first triumph at the All England, he was knocked out in the second round at Queen's. "When Wimbledon comes around and I'm back on that centre court, I think guys know I play pretty well there. I still feel positive and motivated. Once you're on centre court, you're pumped."

Copyright 1998
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.