Ancic Takes Away Hope for Britons

Henmania is over for another year, done in by a nerveless Croatian with a live arm, indomitable will and a 20-year-old’s ability to make his mind a blank while 15,000 people tried to help their fragile countryman summon magic.

As has been the case every year since 1936, there will not be a British winner of the men’s Wimbledon title. Fifth-seeded Tim Henman, an eight-time quarterfinalist, could not win a set against unseeded but enthusiastic Mario Ancic.

Ancic, who announced himself as a Wimbledon threat two years ago when he upset Roger Federer and earned the nickname “Super Mario,” set Henman on his heels from the start in a 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-2 triumph that left the crowd inside and outside Centre Court sad and subdued.

As a man approaching his 30th birthday, Henman admitted this loss hurt more than others here. His disappointment, he said, was “worse, actually. That’s the honest answer. My hopes and desires and aims were to win this tournament. Having lost it, it’s a tough one to swallow.”

Lleyton Hewitt, seeded seventh, swallowed hard too. He became the first man since Sjeng Schalken at the 2003 Wimbledon to break Federer’s serve, but in the matter of five minutes in the fourth set Hewitt went from having more break points on the defending champion to double-faulting on match point. He then saw a relieved Federer bow in appreciation of a 6-1, 6-7 (1), 6-0, 6-4 quarterfinal victory, his 22nd consecutive win on grass courts.

Second-seeded Andy Roddick was also well-tested during his 7-6 (4), 7-6 (9), 6-3 victory over No. 12-seeded Schalken. The lanky Dutchman pushed Roddick into two tiebreaks and, as Roddick admitted, outplayed the American from the baseline. But by averaging 113 miles per hour on his second serve and blasting his fastest serve -- 146 mph -- 30 mph faster than Schalken, Roddick moved into his second consecutive Wimbledon semifinal, where he will face Ancic.

Federer will get 10th-seeded Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean, who, like Roddick, hasn’t lost a set here this year. Grosjean beat German Florian Mayer, 7-5, 7-4, 6-2, to advance to his second consecutive Wimbledon semifinal.

Henman had come to this Wimbledon with some momentum built from a surprise run to the French Open semifinals and with confidence in the coaching of Paul Annacone, the man who helped Pete Sampras dominate Wimbledon. Henman had hired Annacone for this year, hoping for some secret tip, some little extra nudge.

“The reality is,” Henman said, “that I don’t have an endless number of years for chances here. And I felt this was a good opportunity. I’m sure my desire and dedication and motivation will always be there. But I’ve not got endless chances.”

Ancic is at a point where his chances seem endless. Against Henman, his 11 aces weren’t dramatic but his serve was powerfully effective. Especially after the first set, Ancic began returning Henman’s serve deep enough to put his opponent on the defensive.

Roddick finished his 2-hour 9-minute match, interrupted twice by rain, with an ungainly but successful imitation of the slam-dunk overhead that had been Sampras’ signature shot. “Got it a little too early,” said Roddick, whose momentum almost carried him into the net. “I need to work harder on it, I think.”

Schalken had seemed to put Roddick in deep trouble in the first-set tiebreak. After winning the first two points, Roddick slipped to the ground while pushing a weak floater over the net. But Schalken’s normally deadly backhand was bungled.

“I rushed it a little,” he said. “I thought, ‘Andy is down and out there,’ and then I missed it. Normally I never miss that one.”

Rain first sent Roddick and Schalken off with the score 5-5, 40-40 and Schalken serving in the second set. When the rain finished, the second tiebreaker came quickly and it was filled with big serving from Roddick and penetrating baseline play from Schalken. Roddick saved three set points and took control with back-to-back forehand winners.

Federer lost his first set of this fortnight, yet Hewitt, who won here in 2002, converted only that one of 11 break-point chances. “I predicted before the match it’s going to be difficult,” Federer said. “It’s going to be a hard battle where I really have to run a lot.”

Hewitt has his idea of who will win Wimbledon 2004. “Roger’s seeing the ball very well,” he said. “ ... He’s going to be a tough player to beat on grass.”