Tim Henman will go down as one of the most celebrated figures in Wimbledon history, but his career at the All England Club began on something of a sour note
In a moment that stunned the British tennis world, Tim Henman made unwanted history by becoming the first player in the Open Era to be ejected from Wimbledon. Back in 1995, the 20-year-old soon-to-be darling of the All England Club reduced a teenage ball girl to tears after accidentally hitting her with a ball.
The dramatic event, which took place during a doubles match, stands out as one of the most controversial episodes in Henman’s otherwise highly respected career, serving as a reminder of how quickly emotions can spiral in competitive sport.
At the time, Henman was playing alongside compatriot Jeremy Bates in a first-round doubles contest on Court 14. Amid the tension of a tie-break, Henman reacted angrily after missing a shot off the net cord, and in a moment of frustration, he struck a spare ball with considerable force.
Unfortunately, it hit 16-year-old ball girl Caroline Hall in the ear, reportedly travelling at 92mph. The impact left her in tears and the audience in shocked silence. Umpire Wayne McKewan acted promptly, calling in referee Alan Mills.
As per All England Club regulations, athletes are expected to maintain composure, and Henman’s outburst was ruled a case of “unsportsmanlike conduct.” Although he argued that the act was not deliberate, the decision was final.
He and Bates were defaulted – the first time such a ruling had been enforced at Wimbledon during the Open Era. The spectators voiced their discontent, but the match was brought to a close, casting a shadow over Henman’s budding career at SW19.
“I was not happy at losing the point and was angry,” Henman explained at a press conference later that night. “It was a complete accident, but I’m responsible for my actions.”
Attempting to make things right, Henman met Caroline the next day on a practice court, offering her a generous bouquet of flowers and a kiss on the cheek for photographers. The media cheekily dubbed the gesture “the henpeck.”
Caroline, a student at a convent school, accepted the apology with class. “It was a bit of a shock, and my head is quite sore,” she said. “But I know it was a complete accident. There’s no hard feelings.”
Despite the controversy, Henman’s relationship with Wimbledon only grew stronger. The following year, he reached the singles quarter-finals and was crowned British No. 1 in the process. Then, between 1998 and 2002, he would reach the semi-finals four times in five years.
Years later, reflecting on his disqualification, Henman – now a beloved pundit on the BBC – acknowledged the incident as a turning point. “I remember thinking, ‘Wow, I better have some half-decent results [next year] because I don’t want to be remembered as the first person to be disqualified at Wimbledon,'” he told the Telegraph in 2022.
“And then in 1996, that was when I made the quarter-finals for the first time. And I played my first match on Centre Court and I beat the French Open champion [Yevgeny Kafelnikov]. That was definitely when my life changed and I became known to the British public and that affiliation with Wimbledon began.”
Henman went on to become a beloved national figure, with fans naming the iconic grassy slope beside Centre Court “Henman Hill”. The cheer of “Come on, Tim” became part of Wimbledon’s soundtrack, echoing even after his retirement.
Though he never clinched a Grand Slam title, Henman’s fighting spirit won him the affection of a nation – and gradually, his early career mishap was forgiven and forgotten.
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