Henman- did he overachiever or underachiever, or neither

[robertharris]

What were your views on Tim Henman. The British media hyped him tremendously. He spent most of his prime as a #8-#15 kind of player, and was really only a top dog at Wimbledon where he became annually one of the 4 or 5 title favorites. The British of course had huge hopes for him to win there, but he lost in the semis 4 times. The British tended to overhype him and even potrayed him as a possible future #1, which I never thought he had a hope of ever reaching.

Did he overachiever or underachieve in his career. Or neither one really.

He was one of the best volleyers of his era along with Rafter, Sampras, and Stich. He didn't have a whole else lot going for him though. First serve was solid and strong, but not a great weapon, and he didn't move it around as well as say Rafter did. Second serve was attackable and shaky. Off the ground he was ok, but not competitive with a top baseliner. Mentally and in terms of tactics he was middle ground for a top 20 player I guess.

I don't think he was ever near the potential of say Andy Murray who atleast you could see from 6 or 7 years ago should win several slams and could even be a potential #1 (although even he might never get there).

 

[chjtennis]

I think he pretty much everything his talent allowed him to. He was a decent player but never saw him as something special.

 

[Indio]

Henman was the last of the (successful) serve and volleyers. I'd bet that if he had one match he could play again, it would be Wimbledon 2001 SF.

 

[gabybackhand]

Henman had all the talent and weapons to be #1 in the World and win many slams. He just lacked the self belief. Someone like Rafter had less game than him and look what he achieved.

 

[Mustard]

Ironically, I think Henman had an excellent chance to win the 2004 French Open when he was leading Coria by 6-3, 4-2 in their semi final match. Gaudio was already in the final, and I reckon Henman would have beaten Gaudio. Unfortunately for Henman, Coria won 13 games in a row and won 3-6, 6-4, 6-0, 7-5.

 

[gabybackhand]

Ironically, I think Henman had an excellent chance to win the 2004 French Open when he was leading Coria by 6-3, 4-2 in their semi final match. Gaudio was already in the final, and I reckon Henman would have beaten Gaudio. Unfortunately for Henman, Coria won 13 games in a row and won 3-6, 6-4, 6-0, 7-5.

He also had a great shot at the 2002 Australian Open title. He lost to Jonas Bjorman, an easily beatable opponent. Would have had Tomas Johasson, Jiri Novak, and a badly off form Safin to beat for the title.

I think he had a shot at the U.S Open once, but I forget the year.

Had a good shot to win Wimbledons in 98, 99, 2001, and 2002.

Should have achieved a lot more and easily had the talent to win slams and be #1.

 

[NatF]

He also had a great shot at the 2002 Australian Open title. He lost to Jonas Bjorman, an easily beatable opponent. Would have had Tomas Johasson, Jiri Novak, and a badly off form Safin to beat for the title.

I think he had a shot at the U.S Open once, but I forget the year.

Had a good shot to win Wimbledons in 98, 99, 2001, and 2002.

Should have achieved a lot more and easily had the talent to win slams and be #1.

He made the semi's of the USO in 2004 where he was comfortably dispatched by Federer. Oddy 2004 seemed to be his peak year.

 

[gabybackhand]

He made the semi's of the USO in 2004 where he was comfortably dispatched by Federer. Oddy 2004 seemed to be his peak year.

Henman beat peak Federer twice, in Paris semis 2003 and an event before Indian Wells 2004. Counting the rest of 2004 before Henman began to decline he was 2-2 vs peak Federer. He also won his first 6 or 7 matches with Federer, although many of those before Federer reached his prime. This shows his talent and how much game he had, and that he should have done more than he did in his own era, even facing Sampras, Agassi, and others.

 

[Mustard]

Safin played very well against Sampras at the 2002 Australian Open. That was an excellent match, and some great arguments with the umpire. Safin was fortunate in the semi final, that when he was trailing 1-2 in sets to Haas, the roof was closed, and Safin thrived in the indoor conditions. The last 3 sets against Johansson, Safin was just flat. He later said that he was too nervous with being expected to win.

 

[gabybackhand]

Safin played very well against Sampras at the 2002 Australian Open. That was an excellent match, and some great arguments with the umpire. Safin was fortunate in the semi final, that when he was trailing 1-2 in sets to Haas, the roof was closed, and Safin thrived in the indoor conditions. The last 3 sets against Johansson, Safin was just flat. He later said that he was too nervous with being expected to win.

So unfortunate for Haas! Don't you think he would have won the title that year had he beaten Safin, or had he had Safin's draw. Although I guess Sampras might have taken Haas out, so maybe I should say if he had Johansson's draw.

 

[mattennis]

Henman was very talented and had a game that was very effective back then (not so much right now). He had great volleys and net game in general. Very good and effective serve. Decent groundstrokes for fast courts.

I think he lacked the killer instinct, more than anything. He was one of many many really good players that used to be ranked around 5-15 consistently back in that era.

 

[helterskelter]

Safin played very well against Sampras at the 2002 Australian Open. That was an excellent match, and some great arguments with the umpire. Safin was fortunate in the semi final, that when he was trailing 1-2 in sets to Haas, the roof was closed, and Safin thrived in the indoor conditions. The last 3 sets against Johansson, Safin was just flat. He later said that he was too nervous with being expected to win.

Nervous, schmervous. He was tired because of the night out he had the previous night.

His average groundstroke speak was, IIRC, about 20 MPH less in the final than it was for the first six rounds averaged out. So, something was up. Maybe nerves. But I'm not entirely willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, given the boxful of young women he brought with him to the final.

 

[robertharris]

Nervous, schmervous. He was tired because of the night out he had the previous night.

His average groundstroke speak was, IIRC, about 20 MPH less in the final than it was for the first six rounds averaged out. So, something was up. Maybe nerves. But I'm not entirely willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, given the boxful of young women he brought with him to the final.

Just curious is that just your personal estimate or where you were viewing did they actually document average groundstroke speed.

 

[Mainad]

Ironically, I think Henman had an excellent chance to win the 2004 French Open when he was leading Coria by 6-3, 4-2 in their semi final match. Gaudio was already in the final, and I reckon Henman would have beaten Gaudio. Unfortunately for Henman, Coria won 13 games in a row and won 3-6, 6-4, 6-0, 7-5.

That and 2001 Wimbledon were the closest Henman ever got to winning a Slam. In each case he was ahead in the semi-final and should have won it. Had he got to the final in both cases as he should have done, I feel he would have had a great chance against Rafter or Gaudio.

Outside of Slams, Henman's best performance was his run to the 2003 Paris Masters title. He beat 3 Grand Slam champions back to back, former FO champion, Gustavo Kuerten and the reigning Wimbledon and US Open champions, Federer and Roddick.

 

[dominikk1985]

Henman had all the talent and weapons to be #1 in the World and win many slams. He just lacked the self belief. Someone like Rafter had less game than him and look what he achieved.

I felt he lacked the big serve. He was technically great and as good of a volleyer as anyone but it is hard to succeed as a S&V guy when you do not have a devastating serve. His serve was of course not bad, just not a deadly weapon.

just compare him to goran. goran was a mediocre volleyer, certainly much worse then henman. but his serve gave him a lot of free points and easy putaways. henman on the other hand had to play a lot of difficult volleys which he did very well, but of course it could not work all the time.