T Henman GB v R Soderling Swe

6-7 6-3 6-2 1-6 6-3

Fifth set:

Henman 6-3 Soderling
Let the heavens rejoice - Henman has done it! A netted backhand from Soderling on match point gives him the game, and he's through to the second round at last. It was classic Henman - inspired one minute, inept the next. He waves to the crowd as he strides off court, and they respond with open adoration.

"Tim's not getting any younger. Roger Federer will be fresh - it's a tough enough task to beat him anyway, but after a five-setter... If I were Henman, I'd be begging for an extra day's rest."
John McEnroe, BBC summariser.

"Tim closed out that fifth set very well, Soderling was a very difficult opponent for him today."
John Lloyd, BBC summariser.

Henman 5-3 Soderling
Soderling holds to love. It's almost as if Henman let him have that game, so he could marshall his resources for the next one. There is a huge roar from the crowd as the moment of truth approaches.

Henman 5-2 Soderling
Two good first serves and an improved second serve take Henman to 40-0. He fires his next serve wide to Soderling's backhand, the Swede nets and Henman is just one game away from the second round. After this five-set marathon, at least he has an easy opponent in the next roun.. oh. It's Roger Federer, isn't it?

Henman 4-2 Soderling
Soderling has stopped the rot, and you sense that these final few games could be tense affairs. He cranks up the big forehand and overpowers Henman on both sides.

"Win or lose, Soderling has proved that he can really hit the ball. He's only 21, but he has a future ahead of him."
John McEnroe, BBC summariser.

Henman 4-1 Soderling
Henman edges ever closer to that precious win. He forces Soderling wide and then whips a forehand into the corner to leave Soderling swiping at thin air. If he can hold serve on his next two games, he'll be home and hosed.

"You just get the sense that there might be another twist left in this match."
Chris Bailey, BBC commentator.

Henman 3-1 Soderling
Soderling stays in the set with a much better service game. If Tim does win - and no seasoned Henman-watcher would ever count his chickens until they're running around squawking - the Swede will look back at the first three games of this final set and wonder how he could have let his concentration go so completely at so crucial a time.

Henman 3-0 Soderling
Once again, the game has completely changed direction. Henman couldn't buy a point in that fourth set - now he can't give one away. The large lady in the "Best of British" home-made t-shirt is beside herself with joy.

Henman 2-0 Soderling
Whisper it quietly, but it looks like Good Tim is overpowering Bad Tim. Cannily moving Soderling around the court, he grabs what could be a crucial break, and the courtside screeching grows ever louder. Not from Lucy, of course - she remains a study in poised decorum despite the stomach-churning tension.

"Great start from Henman. He's come out in fifth gear, while Soderling is struggling."
John Lloyd, BBC summariser.

Henman 1-0 Soderling
Huge relief around Court One as Henman holds his serve to love in this deciding set. A good omen for British fans: Soderling has only ever played four five-set matches in his life. Tim has played over 30. Then again, Henman is the older man by several years. Youth versus experience - you choose...

Fourth set:

Henman 1-6 Soderling
There it goes - Soderling holds comfortably, and the match goes into a fifth set. Which Tim will turn up for this - the eagle-eyed maestro of the third set, or the limp-wristed, wilting flower of the fourth?

Henman 1-5 Soderling
Henman, as he always must, is putting his fans through the wringer. He concedes the game in abject fashion, and Soderling is rampant. It's a good job Lucy hasn't brought the youngest Henmans, Olivia and Rosie. This sort of horror-show could give a child nightmares for weeks.

Henman 1-4 Soderling
It's almost a relief to see Soderling hold serve after a period when both players seemed to have forgotten how to do it. The crowd are less impressed - Soderling's achievement is greeted by the merest hint of applause.

Henman 1-3 Soderling
Both players are suddenly acting like coy teenagers, unable to take their chances and handing the breaks back to each other in almost embarassed fashion. Soderling comes to the net again with success and Henman lets another break go.

Henman 1-2 Soderling
Soderling, with Henman on the back foot, blows his chance with an inexplicable collapse of form. Tim barely has to do anything - Soderling errors gift him the break back. Lucy is impassive behind her enormous shades. Completely at ease in these surroundings, you can't imagine her being quite as happy if she were in Baden-Baden with the World Cup WAGs. Karaoke and 3am dancing on tables doesn't seem to be her thing.

Henman 0-2 Soderling
No wonder Lucy looked nervous - she could sense trouble in the air. Soderling, embolded by his success in the previous game, goes on the attack. He puts Tim's second serve away for fun, and the break is his.

Henman 0-1 Soderling
Brilliant from Soderling. Following Tim's example, he decides to come to the net - and puts away two fantastic volleys. Watching from the stands, Lucy Henman nervously flicks a stray tendril of hair away from her face.

Third set:

Henman 6-2 Soderling
It's never easy with Tim, is it? With the match at his mercy, he wobbles. Soderling has a break point, moves Henman around and then fails to kill his opponent off. Henman then switches to serve-and-volley - and the effect is instantaneous. Two point later, the third set is his. Why doesn't he use those tactics more often?

"Soderling is an enigma. He's got the game, but he's not always capable of using it."
John McEnroe, BBC summariser.

Henman 5-2 Soderling
A break point for Henman, and the crowd are starting to believe. But he nets a stretched backhand and Soderling strikes back. Now Tim must serve for a two sets to one lead. A wipe of the face on the towel, a quick sip of barley water and he's ready.

Henman 5-1 Soderling
A deep approach and solid volley at the net extend Henman's lead still further. Soderling manages to put him under a little more pressure but he can't find the break he so badly needs.

Henman 4-1 Soderling
A brief respite for the big Swede. His serve clunks into gear again and he holds to 15. Time for a quick glance at Tony Henman's face - yup, absolutely nothing going on there. The man could win the National Lottery and not show a flicker of emotion. The only thing that you can imagine breaking him is forced confinement in the Big Brother house.

Henman 4-0 Soderling
Soderling does his best to jump-start his game by going hard at the Henman first serve. He gets to 30-30 but then loses concentration again, and Henman speeds away with the points. The crowd - until minutes ago all "agghhs" and "noooss" are now much more "ahhhhs" and "yaays!"

Henman 3-0 Soderling
It's like watching a different Henman. Tim Mk I - edgy, uncertain, stroppy - has been replaced by New Improved Tim - dynamic, confident and in control. NIT attacks the Soderling serve, sets up two break points and takes the second with a sweet backhand that fades away from the Swede.

"Henman is producing something special at the start of this third set. It's extraordinary how he's turned it round."
Chris Bailey, BBC commentator.

Henman 2-0 Soderling
Eight straight points for Henman at the start of this set. He's like a man re-born. He goes wide to Soderling's backhand and then eases in another drop-shot to take the game. The Swede has no answer. Sound familiar?

Henman 1-0 Soderling
The momentum has shifted. Soderling's serve crumbles and Henman has three break points. Soderling then hands him the game on a silver salver by double-faulting. Could that be the turning-point?

"All of a sudden, it all seems to be working for Henman."
John McEnroe, BBC summariser.

Second set:

Henman 6-3 Soderling
O ye of little faith - Henman holds serve despite wobbling at 30-30 as Soderling nets his backhand. On Henman Hill, over-excited girls from expensive schools wave their arms wildy as they spot themselves on the giant screen.

Henman 5-3 Soderling
Soderling gets back on track - he rattles through his service game to stay alive in the set. Now Tim only has to hold his own serve to bring the match level - a stroll in the park, surely?

Henman 5-2 Soderling
Better from Henman again. Soderling is now the one whose head has dropped a little. Whilst Henmania is yet to break out, two middle-aged ladies in Union Jack vests and caps are clapping enthusiastically. One then spoils the effect by yawning like a basking seal.

Henman 4-2 Soderling
At last - a precious break for Henman. Soderling loses his concentration and Tim finally takes advantage. As he walks back to his chair, he looks up at the crowd and claps his hand on his racquet - it's not exactly James Brown at the Harlem Apollo, but it gets the crowd in SW19 going.

Henman 3-2 Soderling
At break point down, Henman gambles on a heavily-sliced drop-shot, and the punt pays off - Soderling can't get close to it. Despite another Henman unforced error, he eventually closes the game out. We're getting to that uncomfortable stage where each Soderling service game sails by in seconds while Henman's turn into fraught 10-minute epics.

"You feel that Tim's stressed out. You'd like him to somehow be able to enjoy this moment a little more."
John McEnroe, BBC summariser.

Henman 2-2 Soderling
That was a little too easy for Soderling. Henman is failing to threaten the Swede's serve at all. He paces the court with a scowl on his face that would do credit to teenage tantrum-thrower Andy Murray.

"It looks to me like Soderling just wants this one more. And the crowd keep waiting for Henman to do more, but he's in an annoyed mood."
John McEnroe, BBC summariser.

Henman 2-1 Soderling
Henman's most impressive game of the match so far. He whips a forehand passing-shot past Soderling and then fools him with a drop-shot so well disguised it was virtually wearing a false beard and sunglasses.

Henman 1-1 Soderling
As the match moves into its second hour, Soderling holds comfortably. Henman is looking a touch disconsolate. Up in the stands, Mr H senior puts his foot up on the railing - an act of almost indecent rebelliousness.

Henman 1-0 Soderling
That's more like it. The Henman first serve, which has been running at about 55%, moves up a gear and Soderling doesn't have the answers - for now.

First set:

Henman 6-7 (8-10) Soderling
An absolute shocker for Henman. He has three set points, fails to take any of them and then double-faults at set point against to gift Soderling the set. The Court One crowd can't quite believe it.

"That was a set Tim should have won. He didn't, and now Soderling is full of confidence."
John McEnroe, BBC summariser.

Henman 6-6 Soderling
Always trust your instincts - Henman holds to love. It's tie-break time - who's going to win the shoot-out? We hear a variation of the classic "Come on Tim!" shout from the crowd - along with of the usual yelps of desperation, there's now a strong male voice giving it much more of a Richard Ashcroft-style northern exhortation. Maybe the former Verve frontman is a recent convert to the joys of lawn tennis.

Henman 5-6 Soderling
Lovely deft touch from the Swede at the net. This set has got tie-break written all over it - or it did until this sentence tempted fate.

Henman 5-5 Soderling
The best tennis of the match so far. Henman volleys like the Henman of old to hold his serve when the nerves could have been jangling. Still no breaks of serve. If Tim wins today, beats Roger Federer in the second round and goes on to win the entire tournament in epic fashion, would his dad smile then?

Henman 4-5 Soderling
Tim can't quite take his chances at the moment - a third break point goes to waste as Soderling's serve proves too strong. Henman must now hold serve to stay in the set. Still no movement from Tony Henman's face.

Henman 4-4 Soderling
Henman's serve is proving solid when he needs it. He races to 40-0, loses a point to a Soderling forehand special and then seals the game with another ripper. A sliver of sunshine slides through the clouds while the game is in progress, and for the first time at this Wimbledon, we see shadows.

Henman 3-4 Soderling
After Soderling wins his 11th service point in a row, Henman hits two fine backhands to work himself a break point. A big Soder-serve saves it, and he closes the game out with style.

"People say the balls are heavier these days, but I'm not so sure. At the French Open, the players said the balls actually felt lighter."
John McEnroe, BBC summariser.

Henman 3-3 Soderling
A deep approach shot and crisp volley at the net brings Henman level.

"The line judges are looking very dapper in their new outfits - very Great Gatsby."
Chris Bailey, BBC commentator.

Henman 2-3 Soderling
Soderling holds again comfortably. He's not serve and volleying, but on this pristine surface his groundstrokes are doing a lot of damage. To be fair, Tony Henman is probably more of a whist man than a poker dude. Either way, his face is a closed book.

Henman 2-2 Soderling
Anything Soderling can do, Henman can do just as well - he serves solidly to win his game to love. Tim's father Tony is watching from the stands, wearing a very natty Panama hat. As usual his face is utterly expressionless. You wouldn't want to play him at poker.

Henman 1-2 Soderling
Soderling rattles through his service game to love. He's a big man, and when his serve's clicking, it's all you can do to lay a racquet on it.

Henman 1-1 Soderling
Luck goes the Briton's way as his 75mph patsy of a second serve goes wide by a clear two inches but is called good by the umpire. Soderling does the arms-outstretched-in-supplication thing, but to no avail.

Henman 0-1 Soderling
A cagey opening game sees Tim engineer a break point, but Soderling produces two big first serves to hold. There's still plenty of seats free in the stands - no sign yet of that Henman-obsessed girl with the curly black hair and Union Jack jester's hat, but it's early days.

"I like Soderling's new haircut. It makes him look bigger."
John McEnroe, BBC summariser.

The players are out on Court One, loosening up. Tim looks pretty much like he has every year since his Wimbledon debut - neat white kit, out-sized sweatband on his right wrist and that strange plastic-looking hairstyle.

It's grey and overcast, but there's no rain - and the forecast is okay too.

How will Henman get on against Soderling? Last time England played Sweden, it ended in a disappointing draw - but that's not an option here...