Henman and Hewitt crash
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ByEurosport
Published 10/06/2005 at 19:32 GMT
Three-time champion Lleyton Hewitt and third seed Tim Henman had their Wimbledon preparations dented on Friday when they crashed out of Queens Club. Hewitt gave little resistance against Croatian Ivo Karlovic, losing 7-6 6-3, while Henman lost 6-4 6-4 to
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Karlovic caused one of the biggest shocks in tennis history two years ago when he beat the then-defending Wimbledon champion in the opening round in his first match in a grand slam event, and he was at it again at the London grass-court event.
The unseeded Croat captured the opening set 7-4 in the tiebreak before breaking Hewitt for a 5-3 lead in the second. Karlovic then sealed victory with an ace to set up a contest with Sweden's Thomas Johansson.
The 2002 Australian Open champion upset British number one player Tim Henman 6-4 6-4 while second seed Andy Roddick knocked out Sebastien Grosjean 6-4 7-6.
The American will face fourth seed Radek Stepanek, who recovered from a set down to beat French teen sensation Richard Gasquet 3-6 6-1 6-2.
Grosjean gifted Roddick the first set with two double-faults at 4-5.
In the second set tiebreak, the American created match point with a raking backhand passing-shot and fired a 132 mph second serve to win it 7-5.
"It normally works," Roddick said of the serve. "It feels good.
"Seb's had really, really good results on grass the last couple of years. I'm really excited. After three matches you just want to be alive still."
GLUM HENMAN
Henman was unable to get his serve-volley game going against Johansson.
The decisive break of the first set came in the seventh game and the 30-year-old never recovered from losing his serve in the first game of the second, after which he smashed his racket in frustration.
"The key was that I returned very well and that made him uncomfortable serving," said Johansson.
"I'm disappointed with my performance, I never gave myself the opportunity to put pressure on him," admitted a glum Henman.
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