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Henman Ousted by Russian Minnow
- By Unknown
- Jun. 24 2005 00:00
Britain's Tim Henman returning the ball to Russian Dmitry Tursunov in their second-round match at the All-England Club in southwest London on Thursday.
WIMBLEDON, England -- Englishman Tim Henman was eliminated from his home event at Wimbledon by Russian minnow Dmitry Tursunov on Thursday 3-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 8-6, failing to make it into the second week of the tournament for the first time since 1995.
"I'm glad it's over. It took me a while, and the first time I had two match points and it was tough to let them go," Tursunov said. "I was lucky to get through, and my main concern was not to let that affect me. The crowd were going full steam so it was pretty tough, but I think he had a little bit of pressure. ... I think I reacted pretty well. I didn't want it going to my head." he added.
Tursunov, a 22-year-old who moved to California 10 years ago, reached the third round last year. He beat Marat Safin in the first round.
No British man has won Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal's inexperience on grass tripped him up. The French Open champion lost in the second round Thursday to Gilles Muller 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal, 19, had said he was too green on grass to win Wimbledon this year, and missed opportunities doomed him against Muller. The Spaniard converted just one of 13 break-point chances.
Defending champion Maria Sharapova won the first nine games, lost just four points in the second set and beat 15-year-old Sesil Karatantcheva 6-0, 6-1.
Karatantcheva defeated four-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams last month at the French Open and reached the quarterfinals. But the young Bulgarian, who trains in Florida, was unable to pull off another upset.
Karatantcheva held her own at the start. The first game lasted 14 points, and she had five game points in the opening set -- but failed to convert any. In the second set, Karatantcheva lost the first 12 points and the last 12.
"Grass for now is definitely not my thing," she said. "I'm not sure I was ready for such a good opponent in such a little time on grass."
Sharapova, seeded second, has lost only five games in two matches.
Karatantcheva totaled three winners and 20 unforced errors. When she finally won a game for 3-1 in the second set, she looked to the sky and smiled, then sheepishly covered her eyes as the Court 1 crowd roared in support.
She failed to win another point, and Sharapova closed the victory in 46 minutes. Before a 2004 match against Sharapova in Indian Wells, California, Karatantcheva pledged to "kick her arse" because of a perceived slight when they were practicing.
"That was a long time ago," Sharapova said. "She has grown up a lot since then, so it's not really worth talking about. ... The tennis does the talking."
"I'm glad it's over. It took me a while, and the first time I had two match points and it was tough to let them go," Tursunov said. "I was lucky to get through, and my main concern was not to let that affect me. The crowd were going full steam so it was pretty tough, but I think he had a little bit of pressure. ... I think I reacted pretty well. I didn't want it going to my head." he added.
Tursunov, a 22-year-old who moved to California 10 years ago, reached the third round last year. He beat Marat Safin in the first round.
No British man has won Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal's inexperience on grass tripped him up. The French Open champion lost in the second round Thursday to Gilles Muller 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal, 19, had said he was too green on grass to win Wimbledon this year, and missed opportunities doomed him against Muller. The Spaniard converted just one of 13 break-point chances.
Defending champion Maria Sharapova won the first nine games, lost just four points in the second set and beat 15-year-old Sesil Karatantcheva 6-0, 6-1.
Karatantcheva defeated four-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams last month at the French Open and reached the quarterfinals. But the young Bulgarian, who trains in Florida, was unable to pull off another upset.
Karatantcheva held her own at the start. The first game lasted 14 points, and she had five game points in the opening set -- but failed to convert any. In the second set, Karatantcheva lost the first 12 points and the last 12.
"Grass for now is definitely not my thing," she said. "I'm not sure I was ready for such a good opponent in such a little time on grass."
Sharapova, seeded second, has lost only five games in two matches.
Karatantcheva totaled three winners and 20 unforced errors. When she finally won a game for 3-1 in the second set, she looked to the sky and smiled, then sheepishly covered her eyes as the Court 1 crowd roared in support.
She failed to win another point, and Sharapova closed the victory in 46 minutes. Before a 2004 match against Sharapova in Indian Wells, California, Karatantcheva pledged to "kick her arse" because of a perceived slight when they were practicing.
"That was a long time ago," Sharapova said. "She has grown up a lot since then, so it's not really worth talking about. ... The tennis does the talking."
