 Henman has plenty of reasons to smile as he heads to London |
Since his career began, Tim Henman has turned "focusing on the positives" into his personal mantra. In the last 12 months, such sentiments have sounded increasingly like empty political spin.
It was difficult to see anything positive in defeats to the likes of Attila Savolt, Stefan Koubek and Olivier Rochus.
Even before the worrying shoulder injury he sustained in August last year, Henman's serve had become something of a liability and his backhand an exploitable weakness.
But as he makes his way back to the green, green grass of home, there are encouraging signs for those hoping Henman can finally fulfil his destiny and lift the Wimbledon trophy on 6 July.
Defeat against third seed and French Open favourite Juan Carlos Ferrero should not worry Henman.
The Briton knows that winning at Roland Garros is almost certainly beyond his grasp, so he will largely ignore scorelines and results in Paris, and instead reflect on his progress.
What might give him most pleasure is the reinvigoration of his serve. When Henman linked up with coach Larry Stefanki nearly two years ago, the pair immediately set about creating a higher percentage first delivery.
While the idea might have sounded like sense, it left Henman with a first serve which may have gone in more often, but looked desperately vulnerable on occasions.
In Paris, one of Henman's serves was clocked at 587mph.
Responding to a query about the faulty speed gun, Henman joked that he was "making up for a few slow ones in the previous 12 months".
 Henman's serve has rediscovered its aggression |
Joking aside, his serve was a more potent weapon at Roland Garros than it had been for some time, an achievement all the more impressive on the slow red clay. Henman explained: "If you can serve well on clay and still be aggressive, when you come to play on the other surfaces, grass being one of them, it makes life a little bit easier for players like myself."
Much was made of Stefanki's no-show at the French Open, which Henman claimed was purely the result of a joint decision to "focus more on practice time".
But whatever the reason, it seemed somewhat significant that Henman should appear to abandon Stefanki's soft-serving policy in the American's absence.
Henman also hit over his backhand more often than in recent times, going for winners rather than relying on the higher percentage, but less aggressive, slice.
His fitness and speed, which has always been good, has been further improved thanks to the injury-enforced hours spent in the gym, rather than on the court.
"Working hard on my fitness and strength in my legs was a priority," Henman said.
"It is very relevant at this time of year on the clay but, as I've said every year, if it works on this surface, then when you come to the grass, it always stands you in good stead."
Henman, on this occasion, is right to come away from Paris with only positives after a miserable six months spent struggling to overcome the shoulder injury.
Whether he can win Wimbledon is still open to question - but at least he heads to London in the right shape, and the right form, to give it his best shot.
MMIX
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