I'm very happy and very surprised but I knew that one day it would come, one day all that hard work could pay off.''The most surprising aspect of a thoroughly mature display was that this was her first appearance on a show court and she didn't bat an eyelid "I love it No 1 court was just unbelievable. I can't go to a tournament thinking 'yeah I'm going to get my ass kicked'. It was such an impressive performance from Sharapova who, of course, has swapped Siberia for Florida, which has less salt mines, that observers began to wonder if she could go on to win the whole damn shooting match. There are no such reservations about the latest blonde bombshell from the Russian munitions factory. Maria Sharapova can play and then some. The 16-year-old wildcard debutante from Siberia yesterday clinically disposed of Jelena Dokic, the No 11 seed from Serbia, 6-4 6-4 to reach the last 16. Maybe an answer to some of those sceptics who had questioned the potency of his challenge during a year when that much-debated shoulder and fatherhood, both of which he describes as "difficulties" (wife Lucy must be delighted with that) have interrupted his preparation.As Ronnie Barker, also a guest of the Royal Box, might have concluded the evening: And it's goodnight from me And it's a very good night from Tim..

He succeeded in precisely that, issuing something that sounded rather like a throaty roar as he did so.The tiger made easy work of the rest; it was like hunting downa wounded gazelle. He produced a sublime backhand pass to break back, and at one stage, remarkably, even charged the net to good effect.It induced the groans that accompany Henman on one of his periodic descents into error-mode, but it all appeared to go to the head of the Swede, perhaps believing that he was actually back in contention Henman immediately broke back "Go on, Tiger," bellowed a spectator to some amusement. The problem is that Henman might just ruin it all by allowing fact to intrude on fiction.The first set was the only one in which the Swede, who was experiencing the oppressive nature of Centre Court for the first occasion, sustained some interest in proceedings. But there were also to be seen, amongst others, Jonny Wilkinson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Gary Lineker and Sir Bobby Robson, whichserved to accentuate the absence - with that one honourable exception - of home interest.In that context Working Titles Films' production of Wimbledon, shot here, in part, this week, with the storyline a British player who becomes the first home-grown champion since Fred Perry in 1936 was a promising basis for a movie A trifle wacky, but it couldwork. Notably, that was because of the presence of Olympians Sir Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell. The last two matches this year certainly bode well for the next week."If those fortunates among the Royal Box occupants spent much of the first two sets shielding their eyes, it was not from Henman's consummate brilliance; just from a sun which set on a day which brought renewed optimism to those with the future of British tennis in their hearts at the conclusion of a dismal week.Summer would not be quite the same if we did not undergo a period of intense flagellation at Britain's inability to produce more than one championship contender born here and another adopted son who, where Wimbledon is concerned, gives new meaning to the expression Canada Dry.Ironically, the Royal Box was a veritable gallery of British sporting celebrity, and one which positively dripped with the gold of winners. Apart from my first-round game last year, the other four that I won and five that I played were just a struggle from start to finish.

His latest was a demolition job, with the foundations of the Swede's game obligingly falling apart at crucial moments. Boris Becker has advocated a policy of "chip and charge" for the Briton, but in truth that was rarely required as Henman won through in a touch over 90 minutes.For the moment, he is content that his strategy is correct, his focus clear. There is always that slight suspicion that this is Tim, nice but diminished by an unhealthy burden of expectation. When she won in straight sets, that that's probably the most pleased I've been for a women's result in a long time."Of course, we have witnessed Britain's finest galleon lured on to the rocks by wreckers from the lower order before.