Tough Tim
Posted: Saturday February 19, 2000 10:06 PM
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Tim Henman upset top-seeded and world No. 2 Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the semifinals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament Saturday in a match that hinged on a late line call.
The Russian thought he had just driven a perfectly judged groundstroke past the fifth-seeded Briton to save a break point at 3-4 down in the finl set. He was preparing to serve again when theumpire told him the ball had been called out.
Henman seized the chance and served out, winning the match-point with his 14th ace.
Henman's final opponent Sunday will be No. 8 seed Cedric Pioline, ranked 15th in the world. The Frenchman beat 49th-ranked compatriot Jerome Golmard 6-3, 6-4 in the other semifinal.
Henman took charge early against Kafelnikov. He broke to love in the first game and raced to a 4-0 lead. Kafelnikov could not get his first serve working consistently but came back to 4-3 before Henman regained his grip on the set.
In the second set, Henman surrendered a break with a double fault, then broke back, chipping and charging on Kafelnikov's second serve in the eighth game. The Russian then broke back again.
Henman saved six break points to hold serve in the eight-deuce third game of the final set. Every point was tough and both players yelled at themselves in frustration after the smallest error.
TIM HENMAN CHAMBER The Realm of The Citadel : SPORTS FEATURES THE REALM OF THE CITADEL : MAIN HALL