Wimbledon may well give the coverage of Euro 2004 a run for its money especially if Tim Henman goes all the way to the final on July 4. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson weighs up the chances of Oxford's finest.

AFTER springtime in Paris comes summer in SW19. The French capital experienced its own version of "Le manie de Hen" last month, but that was nothing compared to the attention the English number one will receive if he enjoys similar success at Wimbledon over the next fortnight.

And perhaps this, more than any other, could be Tim Henman's year.

The 29-year-old has come so close on so many occasions that his semi-final defeat in June's French Open shouldn't have come as too much of a surprise.

He has made the last four at Wimbledon on four separate occasions, and each time has failed to survive to the final.

But last month's failure was different as it came at the end of one of the most remarkable runs of Henman's career.

The red of Paris' clay had normally meant stop for a player who had always struggled to come to terms with Roland Garros in the past.

But Henman discovered new depths to his game that allowed him to combine his undoubted ability at the net with a new-found assurance and aggression from the baseline.

There are always a handful of pundits ready to throw their weight behind Henman at this time of year. After his performances at Paris, the list is longer than ever.

Tellingly, it includes the two men most likely to stand in his way as he looks to end Britain's 68-year wait for a male Wimbledon winner.

Switzerland's Roger Federer looked like dominating the event for years to come when he beat Mark Philippoussis in last year's final.

He followed that win up with another Grand Slam title in Melbourne last winter and, after going through the entirety of last year's grass-court season unbeaten, has been installed as a worthy pre-tournament favourite. But he knows who he fears the most.

"Tim is probably my biggest rival," said Federer, who is the current world number one and leader of 2004's Champions Race.

"He is a great player and he has beaten me many times in the past. His game is made for grass, but he has now showed it on other surfaces too.

"I knew he could do that, but the experts didn't. He has improved over the last few years, especially his serve and his mental game."

Henman's draw means the fifth-seed, who meets little-known Spaniard Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo in the first round, should face his first big hurdle in round four when he's scheduled to meet 11th seed Philippoussis.

Federer, in the other half of the draw with Lleyton Hewitt, will start the tournament as number one seed and opens against British youngster Alex Bogdanovich.

A seemingly pain-free opening will suit the notoriously slow starter, losing three of his five first-round games in the past, but once into his stride he will take some stopping.

Andy Roddick came closest to stopping him last year, but the big-serving American perished in the semi-finals after blasting his way through the opening week.

Roddick was bundled out of the French Open at the second round stage, but that has given him time to limber up on his more favoured grass.

The 21-year-old winner at Queens last week is "super excited" about returning to Wimbledon but, like Federer, has one man on his mind.

"Tim was awesome in the French Open," said Roddick, who if all goes to plan will meet Henman in the semi-final. "He doesn't really have any holes in his game, he has just been a bit unfortunate at key moments in his career.

"But he is one of the best in the world and nothing he does really surprises me anymore. He certainly has the game to win Wimbledon."

Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt had that game in the past but Agassi is missing through injury, and Hewitt is not in the form that saw him crowned champion.

Greg Rusedski's decline has been even more dramatic but, following his Stella Artois Championship defeat to South Korean unknown Hyung-Taik Lee, he did manage two wins in the Nottingham Open, before losing to Sweden's Thomas Johansson.

The women's draw has been decimated by the withdrawal of both of the world's top two, and the tournament should be one of the most open for many years.

Justine Henin-Hardenne dropped out earlier this month, citing a general lack of fitness following her surprise early exit in Paris.

And, with fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters also sidelined because of a wrist injury, attention is likely to focus on Serena and Venus Williams.

The former made it two titles in a row last year, but the American has won just once on the WTA tour all year. Venus has suffered a similar slide, with last month's tame defeat to eventual French Open champion Anastasia Myskina summing up her poor recent form.

Neither Williams sister enters the tournament at the peak of their game but, on a surface they know so well, it would not be too much of a surprise to see them contesting another Wimbledon final on July 3.

It would be a considerable shock if a British woman lasted into the second week of competition and, by that stage, home interest is likely to reside solely with Henman.

The world number seven has shrugged off the shoulder injury that bugged him all last year and, in American Paul Annacone, has found a coach able to remedy the faults that had plagued him in the past.

His serve is back to its most potent and, while he could still do with getting it in play far more than he does, he looked to be in good shape before a shock Stella Artois Championship defeat at the hands of Slovakia's Karol Beck rocked the boat.

That reverse highlighted the inconsistency that continues to plague his game but, after coming through two epic five-setters to make the last four in France, there is no doubt that Henman has finally developed the physical and mental endurance needed to survive the full fortnight of a Grand Slam.

With Euro 2004 in full swing, there are already plenty of St George's flags and Union Jacks on display. If Henman can finally fulfil his promise, they will be flying that little bit higher in a fortnight's time.