Mario Ancic

By Eleanor Preston

While thousands of pairs of worried eyes have been intently focused on Tim Henman over the past nine days, the only people looking at Mario Ancic as he practised at Wimbledon's Aorangi Park courts yesterday were a small clutch of journalists, anxiously clutching notebooks and desperate to get to know more about the 20-year-old who dares to challenge Henman on Centre Court this afternoon.

"It's a pretty big match. All of England is behind Henman but I think I am playing well," he said, sounding fearless at the prospect of taking on Britain's darling and 13,000 of his closest friends. "It's going to be a tennis match. He's much better ranked than me but there is more pressure on him. I am feeling good and I know that I can do well."

When the Croatian arrived here in 2002 as a callow 18-year-old qualifier and devastated Roger Federer in the first round he seemed destined to play marquee matches on a regular basis. He has proved a slower burner than that sudden, white-light flash against Federer suggested. Having been a pro for three years he has yet to break into the world's top 50 (he is currently ranked 63) or win an ATP Tour title and his only final appearance came in Milan in February.

"He's had a lot of coaching changes and that hasn't helped," said the experienced coach Bob Brett, who oversaw his transition from talented junior to professional but parted with Ancic almost immediately after the win over Federer. "He was only 18 when he beat Federer and his body was still growing. Now it's stabilised a bit and that's made a big difference. I'm not surprised to see him do this here because he's a great grass-court player."

Ancic proved Brett right by pushing Andy Roddick to three sets at Queen's and making the semi-finals of the Wimbledon warm-up in Den Bosch, upsetting the Dutch crowd there by beating both Sjeng Schalken and Martin Verkerk.

Brett believes Ancic has made great strides under his current coach, Rohan Goetzke, who he has been working with for the past 10 months. Goetzke, who was the long-term coach of the 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek, has instilled an enviable work ethic, tweaked Ancic's serve and made him more consistent. Most importantly the quietly spoken Australian has tapped into Ancic's serious side - this is a player, after all, who spends his spare hours studying for a law diploma - and curbed the temperamental streak that has always invited comparisons with his tempestuous mentor Goran Ivanisevic.

"In Croatia all the guys are temperamental," said Ancic. "I'm calmer now but there is always this temper inside. The hunger to win is always there. I think beating Federer will help me. When I played him the atmosphere was unbelievable."

Along with Goetzke, Ivanisevic remains both an inspiration and an advisor, as he has been since he first practised with a 10-year-old Ancic in their home town of Split. Ancic's elder brother Ivica, who coaches their 15-year-old sister Sanja, is also a powerful voice in Ancic's ear.

With no shortage of advice and experience gained from beating Federer, Ancic should be well equipped to deal with Henman. "Tim is very experienced and there is a big difference between beating Federer in the first round and playing Henman in a quarter-final with the whole world watching, but that might inspire Mario. He certainly won't be overawed."

If Ancic can do to Henman what he did to Federer two years ago, then all eyes may soon be on him again