TENNIS: Final farewell for tearful Tim

8:00am Saturday 22nd September 2007

Tim Henman had to wipe away a tear as he won what was probably his last-ever singles match yesterday.

After his straight-sets victory over Roko Karanusic had helped Great Britain to a 2-0 lead over Croatia in their Davis Cup Euro Africa Zone One play-off, the Oxfordshire ace bent down on one knee and kissed the grass on which he has felt so at home in his tennis career.

The British No 2 beat 25-year-old Karanusic - a late replacement for Ivan Ljubicic - 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

It's not known, though, whether it will be Henman's final match.

Captain John Lloyd was discussing with the GB team late into the night yesterday who should go out today to play in the doubles.

Henman said he was prepared to do whatever was necessary to help Britain's cause, but he wouldn't play in a dead rubber.

"I don't know whether I'll be back," he admitted. "I played some fantastic stuff and to be 2-0 up is a great position to be in.

"But the job's not done yet. If I'm required to play again, I'm quite happy to go out and do that.

"I'll be there on Sunday, but if I'm back on court on Sunday, it's because it's 2-2 and I'll have to produce another exceptional performance to win."

The fact that Great Britain are within one rubber of returning to the World Group for the first time since 2003, owed much to Andy Murray, who produced some brilliant shots in his five-set victory over Marin Cilic, which put them one up.

The late change in Croatia's team came as a shock to Henman, who had prepared long and hard for his expected meeting with Ljubicic, the world No 12.

Henman needed only to be efficient and to cut out too many mistakes to overcome Karanusic, who is ranked 164th in the world.

The crowd rose for a prolonged ovation at the end, with the Henman fans now holding up letters spelling out 'ARISE SIR TIMOTHY'.

Clearly emotional, the 33-year-old wiped away the moisture from his eyes, before giving other members of the team a hug, then slamming four autographed balls into four corners of the sell-out 11,400 Court No 1 crowd.

No doubt they will become valuable mementoes in years to come.

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