ONCE again they are daring us to dream; inspiring hopes that one of British sport's most miserable records will be cast aside.

Every year, it seems, Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski flirt with tennis fans, offer them a hint of success - only to fail.

But this time, in Golden Jubilee year, Britain's hopes of celebrating its first winner of the Wimbledon men's singles title since before the Second World War are justifiably high.

The draw has opened up like no tournament since...well, the World Cup actually. Henman's half has been turned into a near-cakewalk into the semi-finals by the departure of a welter of big names.

Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Marit Safin all exited on the same day. Roger Federer did not make it past the first round.

Henman, who faces the unheralded Michel Kratochvil today, is likely to face his first serious test in the semis when world No 1 Lleyton Hewitt stands between him and the final.

The last four has, of course, proved to be Henman's bete noir in recent years. Critics who acknowledge his talent insist such repetitive failure indicates a lack of mental strength.

But the way he disposed of Wayne Ferreira, a talented grass court player, in four sets on Saturday suggested Henman can now tough it out.

True, he rode his luck to beat the South African, but no one has ever coasted to a Wimbledon triumph. He had to dig deep, and he did so.

Rusedski's path to the final is no more fraught - his toughest match is likely to be against either Mark Philippoussis or Richard Krajicek in the last eight.

Xavier Malisse, Henman's nemesis in Grand Slam events in the last couple of years, stands before Rusedski today. After the British No 2 disposed of Andy Roddick with such clinical efficiency, this afternoon's match should hold no fears.

Certainly, the British pair have the bookmakers - who usually fill their boots when patriotic punters hand over their money - running scared.

Before Wimbledon, they were offering 66-1 on Henman and Rusedski meeting in the final.

The departure of so many big guns, plus the Brits' ever-improving form through the first week, has seen the price cut to a skinny 10-1.

Henman is not serving at his best, as Ferreira exposed, and Hewitt's returns will be even more punishing.

But he has another five days to hit top form, as he will surely do as he closes on his first Wimbledon final, and the absence of Sampras and Goran Ivanisevic - the men who have denied him three times in the semis - will spur him on.

He has no need to fear anyone, including Hewitt, whose Wimbledon record was abject before this year.

And when John McEnroe, no less, talks up Rusedski's hopes, it is enough to send confidence coarsing through the 28-year-old's veins.

A player cannot win Wimbledon in the first week - but he can lose the chance to do so. Just ask Sampras, or Agassi, or any number of bg names who have long since left SW19.

But after a week which underlined the fading of the United States as a major men's tennis power, Britain's Wimbledon challenge is very much alive and kicking.

A Henman-Rusedski final is no longer a pipe dream. And come Friday evening, it might just be a reality.