Light cuts Henman short
Henman's gruelling first-round clash with Carlos Moya will continue tomorrow
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Monday, 25, Jun 2007 10:43
Tim Henman's first-round Wimbledon tie with Carlos Moya will resume at 6-3 1-6 5-7 6-2 5-5 tomorrow after bad light brought an early halt to an engrossing match.
After winning the first set, Henman fell behind to the 25th-seeded Spaniard, before rallying to win 6-2 in the fourth.
The British number two fought back from a break down in the decider before wasting four match points in the final game of the day to the leave the Centre Court crowd stunned and the prospect of an intriguing showdown tomorrow.
The spectators were forced to wait for the drama as persistent rain ensured the match suffered a stuttering start.
Drizzle forced the players back to the locker room for over an hour just as Henman was poised to polish off the first set and it was close to 19:00 BST by the time the second got underway.
But those who sat tight were rewarded with a see-sawing encounter typical of those that have littered Henman's campaigns in SW19.
Moya strolled through the second set with consummate ease and seemed increasingly at home on a surface he traditionally struggles with.
The clay-court specialist was suddenly charging the net and chasing in serves as he edged ahead in a nip-and-tuck third.
But Henman climbed off the floor to show gritty determination and take the fourth 6-2.
After being broken in the third game of the final set, it appeared that his recovery may be in vain but Henman clawed back Moya's advantage in the eighth to make it 4-4.
A fairytale ending seemed in sight when the 32-year-old was afforded four match points in the final game of the day, but it was Moya's turn to show his mental fortitude and guarantee an uneasy night's sleep for all.