BBC SPORT | Tennis | Wimbledon | Gutsy Henman into last eight

The British number one looked to be on his way out at 2-0 down in the fifth set and struggling with a stomach complaint, but he battled back to set up a last-eight meeting with Brazilian Andre Sa.

Cash dismisses Henman's hopes

"It was purely my determination and feeling for this tournament, but I couldn't accept going out in those terms," said Henman. "To be through is a pretty amazing feeling.

"I can't quite understand how I won that match, because at two sets to one down and 2-1 down, I was out of there," he said. "But the good old crowd got me going again."

Tim Henman
Henman came through despite a stomach bug

Henman must have thought he was about to suffer a repeat of last year's disappointment against Goran Ivanisevic when the rain brought a delay just as he took control of his match.

Photo Gallery: See this story in pictures

And to make matters worse, the Briton began to suffer physically during the break.

"I don't feel great," he said afterwards. "I had some problems with my stomach and when we went in for the rain delay I felt more and more tired.

"I just kept fighting for every single point and it's amazing what you can do.

"I don't think I was playing my best. Once the sun had gone down the ball felt very, very heavy, and conditions were pretty slow.

Michel Kratochvil in action against Henman
Kratochvil made 57 unforced errors
"But there was no way I could let it slip."

Whether he can recover his health, and form, in time to rescue his campaign for the title, is another matter.

It had never been easy for Henman - the opening two sets were tight and shared on tie-breaks.

But when Henman resumed at 4-1 up in the third set after the rain break, there was little sign of what was to follow.

Smelling salts

He was immediately anything but comfortable, making all sorts of mistakes as Kratochvil reeled off five straight games to move ahead.

Henman looked increasingly weak - and even regular treatment, including smelling salts, from the trainer initially failed to revive him.

Kratochvil maintained the momentum until the fourth game of the fourth set, when nerves took hold, and four unforced forehand errors handed Henman a lifeline.

The Briton took his chance with a stop-volley and cross-court forehand pass.

There were still more twists to come in the final set, with the trainer on court again to treat the ailing Henman, and then Kratochvil for a grazed knee.

Gamewatch: Henman v Kratochvil

Kratochvil once more seized the initiative, but then couldn't hold serve having broken.

And Henman, still nowhere near his best, summoned enough strength and skill to make the decisive break.

In front at 3-2, Henman's first serve and forehand finally returned, and he broke again to complete the most dramatic of victories after a tortuous four hours and 15 minutes on court.

For his part, Kratochvil's 57 unforced errors demonstrated how he failed to capitalise when Henman was all but down and out.

As for a bedraggled Henman, he is still alive at this year's Wimbledon - but only just.


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