All down hill from here

By Ian Westbrook & Sarah Holt
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Photos from Henman v Ancic Henman crashes out

Pack away the St George's flags, put the face paints back on the shelf because Henmania is over for another year.

Britain's great hope slipped on the banana-skin challenge of the unseeded Croatian Mario Ancic and tumbled all the way out of Wimbledon.

The buzz of optimism and anxiety that had "Henman Hill" humming just a few hours earlier proved as fragile as its hero's game.

Before the match, fans were huddled around their picnic baskets munching sandwiches and salad as they stared nervously at the big screen.

The early arrivals had nabbed all the tables so the rest of the crowd made do with sitting in neat rows on the grass or standing at the back.

There was plenty of Pimm's and lager in evidence as people settled down for the start, applauding Henman as he walked back to receive at the start.

Knowing that any Henman match is likely to involve more than a few nerve-jangling moments, there was no football-style chanting - the spectators were quite subdued.

As Henman made a positive start, thundering down an ace, saving a break point, the crowd rippled with applause and cheers.

The inevitable chants of "Come on, Tim" did crop up from time to time but only when the fans felt their hero really needed their support.

It's almost nice that the pain is over now - at least we don't have to go through any more matches like that Toby from Hull

There was, of course, only one thing to stir up the fans - show the hill on the big screen and watch the frantic waving and shouting begin.

But as the match wore on, nerves begin to wear out and tension levels rose.

And when Henman finally surrendered his challenge there was a huge groan and a mass exodus.

"The crowd were behind Henman but it was as though you could feel what was going to happen," said Sally from Bristol.

"It was a great atmosphere to begin with but when he lost the first set he lost the crowd too," agreed Jonny and Ross, who had queued since two o'clock in the morning.

"He just wasn't playing positively at all and seemed to lose his momentum really."

Rusedski Ridge might be fast becoming a thing of the past but surely Henman Hill will still be biting its collective nails next year?

"Even when Henman's gone this hill will still belong to him," said a loyal Lucy - no, not that one.

"He will come back but I think this is his last real chance to make an impact."

"Tim always has a chance but it's going to be really difficult now," said Toby, who made the trip from Hull.

Fans on the hill try all the tricks in the book to help Henman

"His record here is fantastic regardless of the fact that he's not won the title.

"And to be honest it's almost nice that the pain is over now - at least we don't have to go through any more matches like that."

Among the sea of red and white on Henman Hill there were just a few dissenting voices struggling to be heard.

"I'm delighted by the result I did not expect it at all but Mario Ancic played brilliantly," smiled Dennis from Croatia.

"He has that arrogance that you wouldn't expect in a 20-year-old and I hope he can carry on what Goran Ivanisevic started."

Ah well, there is some consolation for English sporting fans - at least it was not an Australian who downed Henman.

"Tim was disappointing after the way he played against the Poo (Mark Philippoussis) in the last round and yes it was lovely to see him lose," grinned Rob from Brisbane.

Academy: Download a Tim Henman mask