Tim Henman has already taken some notable scalps at Wimbledon, yet now he is faced with his biggest challenge - to replace David Beckham in the British public's psyche. Well, for the next week anyway.
The Daily Mirror terms it "Becksmania v Henmania".
"Henman has already seen off two of Britain's favourite soap operas and today plans to upstage another. . .Beckham's move to Real Madrid," writes John Cross in the Daily Mirror.
"The British number one faces Sebstien Grosjean in the Wimbledon quarter-finals just over an hour after Beckham is unveiled as a Real Madrid player in front of a predicted worldwide TV audience of two billion."
THE HEADLINES Daily Telegraph: Henman walks tall on other side of The Street The Sun: Real get their cash Beck The Guardian: Williamses run back into the Belgians The Independent: Grosjean poses greatest threat yet to Henman The Times: Cool Henman approaches French test in relaxed mood Daily Mail: Real land Beckham bonanza Daily Express: Tim 'bigger than England' The Mirror: Becksmania v Henmania Daily Star: Cash Beck deal |
Henman was comprehensively beaten by Grosjean at Queen's Club a fortnight ago, but the papers tip him to win through to the Wimbledon semis for the fifth time in six years.
Henmania really is in full swing.
The Independent's John Roberts writes: "The shoulder, and Henman's form, appear to have improved from the moment he walked into the All England Club, as Grosjean has noticed."
Neil Harman in The Times is not content with merely prediciting a quarter-final win for Henman, oh no.
He hints that the Oxford-born player can go all the way.
"It will not have escaped Henman's notice that of the quarter-finalists, only Mark Philippoussis has beaten him at Wimbledon."
Despite the mounting hysteria surrounding Henman's progress at SW19, Becks still gets plenty of column inches.
The England captain will be officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player today and The Sun claims he will earn the Spanish giants �17m before even playing a competitive match.
The Daily Mail suggests Beckham will earn Real �25m in shirt sales alone.