The expectation hangs heavy in the Wimbledon air like the famous ivy clinging to the grand old halls of the All England Club.
Can Oxfordshire's Tim Henman go one better than the last two years when he has reached the semi-final?
Henman will carry the hopes and dreams of a nation this next fortnight. Tiger Tim, who hit the career heights of No 4 in the world a year ago, is going through a dip in form which threatens to develop into something of a crisis. He lost to anonymous American Bob Bryan in the first round at Queen's a fortnight ago and again crashed out in round one at Nottingham - this time to veteran Swede Jonas Bjorkman.
It has not been ideal preparation, admits Henman, the eighth seed, who plays Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan in the first round tomorrow.
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