Devastated Tim Henman bowed out of Wimbledon last night feeling like a man who had been severely beaten up.

Big-serving Australian Mark Philippoussis ended the Oxford star's hopes of a fifth successive quarter-final appearance with a barrage of 35 aces in a thrilling five-set match.

"I think it's safe to say he wore me down with his serve," Henman said after the Aussie's remarkable 6-1, 5-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory on Centre Court. "As frustrated as I am, I've got to take my hat off and say 'too good today'. Nicknamed 'The Scud', because of his exocet-like 135mph serves, Philippoussis was in brilliant form in taking the first set 6-1, the only points he dropped on his serve in the first 29 minutes coming with two double faults.

Henman battled back bravely to level it and then won a tense and exciting tie-break 11-9. But the Australian, hiding the tiredness he felt after playing the longest one-day match in Wimbledon history on Saturday, regrouped magnificently and one break in each of the next two sets won him the match and a last-eight meeting with Andre Agassi. Henman said he didn't know if anyone could have lived with Philippoussis the way he was serving.

"I certainly haven't seen him play that well. I thought the way I was able to stick in and turn the second and third sets around, was about as good as I could fight. But when he's serving that well, you just feel like one opportunity goes his way and you're up against it. I was hoping for the pace to drop a little bit on his serve, if he was going to get tired. But he's got a great serve and he's able to rely on that

"There's no question there have been many times when I've played much worse than that and won. I went out there and gave it everything I've got. I thought I played some really good tennis."

The British No 1, who doesn't recall having ever seen anyone serve out a match the way Philippoussis did - with three aces and then a second serve ace at 128mph - said he will not stay to watch the remainder of the tournament.

"I can't say I've got a great deal of interest now I'm not involved in it. Good luck to whoever is going to advance." But the 25-year-old, from Weston-on-the-Green, has vowed to keep plugging away in the hope of one day winning Wimbledon.