Not a great day for players who weren't called Henman

And on men's quarter-final day, with a proliferation of Union Jacks, the banking in front of the giant screen outside Number One Court could be dubbed "Henman Hill".

Cheryl and Katrina Taylor left home in Stevenage at 0500 BST and thought it "unlikely" that they would have seen any tennis, other than on the Hill, by the time they set off on the long journey home.

The sisters were hoping to get on Centre Court to watch Tim Henman against Roger Federer before they saw the length of the queue snaking through the streets at 0730 BST in the morning.

"We realised there wasn't a hope in hell of us getting tickets but there was no way we were missing this," Katrina explained.

It was a view shared by George and Beryl, who having got up at 0445 BST, made a beeline for the Hill as soon as the iron gates swung open at 1030 BST.

Many people were attracted by the scenes on the Hill from Henman's victory over Todd Martin in the fourth round although the very cameras that helped lure them to Wimbledon were now viewed with suspicion and were to be avoided at all costs.

Supporters of all ages were harbouring the dark secret of a "sickie", including a mother who had given her son the thumbs up for a day off school and a "wonderful day" at the tennis instead.

But in amongst a partisan crowd and their intermittent cries of "Come on Tim" a pair of Federer supporters clapped his efforts - quietly.

"Any guy who can beat Pete Sampras deserves to win Wimbledon," Miles and Courtney from New York explained.

Fluctuating emotions

And although they may not have had the last laugh in terms of the result Miles certainly had the right idea when it comes to watching tennis on the Hill.

His wife queued from 0700 BST and after just missing out on tickets to Court Two set up for the day around a table in a prime position on the Hill.

Miles, for his part, took a half day off work and strolled in at 1415 BST to take his seat in the front row and watch the drama unfold.

The only drawback on the Hill, apart from being taken through all the emotions in the world by a fluctuating Henman match is a "numb bum".

But frequent Mexican waves help and after a Henman victory washed down with some more Pimms the pain soon subsides.