Henman secures epic win over Moya

By Sophie Brown
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Henman is playing his 14th consecutive Wimbledon

Tim Henman's Wimbledon dream lives on after he finally overcame Carlos Moya in their delayed first-round match at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

The players resumed at 5-5 in the final set after bad light had halted their match late on Monday evening.

It was another nail-biting affair as the first 13 games went with serve.

But Moya eventually double-faulted on Henman's seventh match point to allow the 32-year-old Briton a famous 6-3 1-6 5-7 6-2 13-11 victory.

Interview: Tim Henman

Four-time semi-finalist Henman will now play another Spaniard in the second round in the shape of Feliciano Lopez, who beat Britain's Josh Goodall.

Even without the roof, the atmosphere is second to none - the support I've had here has always been incredible and I use it to my advantage Tim Henman on the Centre Court crowd

After the drama that had taken place on Monday evening, there was further tension for Henman's fans in a packed Centre Court on Tuesday.

Both players looked solid on serve until 30-year-old Moya earned two break points at 11-11.

British number two Henman saved both with terrific serves, including a second-serve ace on the latter.

In the following game, it was Moya's turn to struggle as he went 15-40 down after a clever lob from the Briton, who had failed to convert four match points on Monday evening.

606: DEBATE It amazes me the emotion Henman can still produce CC

He saved both and another but finally cracked on the seventh, tamely handing victory to Henman, who had fought back from a break down earlier in the final set.

It also ensured the Briton avoided his first first-round defeat since his Wimbledon debut 13 years ago.

Afterwards, Henman said his twilight heroics on Monday evening had been the turning point.

"The key was coming back from 2-4 and 15-40 down in the fifth set. I stuck to my guns to hold serve then broke back to get back on level terms.

"I have to give Carlos credit for coming out and serving and volleying like he did. If I'd lost, on reflection I could have accepted it because he played so well."

He also paid tribute to the Centre Court crowd. "They were fantastic," he said.

"It's obviously different without the roof, but the atmosphere is second to none and the support I've had here has always been incredible and I use it to my advantage."