Tim Henman, unexpectedly called-up to the ATP world championships in Hanover yesterday, a journey involving a private jet from Birmingham, immediately found himself in the centre of a major row, with the Spaniards claiming that Felix Mantilla, ranked one place above the British number two, had been snubbed.
Henman left Telford at midday, after defeating Delgado 6-4, 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the British national championships, and arrived in Germany a couple of hours before his "exhibition" match against Russia's Yevgeny Kafelnikov which he won 6-4, 6-4 to bank $100,000 . . . . and 80 ATP points.
He then returned to Britain last night for today's semi-final against Danny Sapsford, and will win a further £9,000 if he defends his title.
"But I did not come to Hanover just for the money," said Henman who will donate a portion of his winnings to charity. "I feel I have gate-crashed the party, and I don't feel I deserved it, but that's not my fault. Next year I want to qualify by finishing in the top eight. "
"This was a totally positive story," said Peter Alfano, the vicepresident of ATP communications. "We were not able to contact Mantilla, and Henman paid his own way to be here."
However Mantilla claimed irately that he had received no message. "It is not true that they called me or left a message. They have all my telephone numbers, the number of my coach, and the clubs where I play. I am feeling very, very angry," said Mantilla in Barcelona.
"They don't have any respect for me or the other Spanish players. It seems they don't want to see us in this kind of tournament," the Spaniard added.
Henman was summoned late on Thursday night, after it became clear that Spain's Sergi Bruguera, who had lost both his round robin matches in the four-man White group, would be unable to take any further part.
On Thursday Austria's Thomas Muster, ranked number nine, stepped in to replace Britain's Greg Rusedski who was forced to pull out with a hamstring strain to his right leg after losing to Pete Sampras and Pat Rafter.
Muster received $40,000 for being the official alternate, and yesterday morning the ATP put out a written statement saying Henman would receive the same money. Almost immediately this was rescinded, a further indication that Tour officials were in a state of some disarray. Henman was paid $10,000 for agreeing to play. Bruguera's rib injury had presented the ATP, the men's ruling body, with considerable logistical difficulties. Marcello Rios, ranked number 10, was in Chile and clearly could not get to Hanover in time to play Kafelnikov, and neither could Brazils's Gustavo Kuerten.
Other players were injured: Holland's Richard Krajicek, the 1996 Wimbledon champion, Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia, and Petr Korda of the Czech Republic. This left two Spaniards, Mantilla (ranked 16) and Alex Corretja (12) available, together with Henman (17). Corretja was playing in a doubles tournament, so was apparently not therefore available according to the ATP rules, even though these are their own world championships and their showcase.
So the final choice rested between Mantilla and Henman. David Felgate, Henman's coach, who is here to attend a series of ATP board of directors meetings (he joins the board in January), was able confirm Henman's availability. Henman, himself a member of the ATP player council, knew by 11.0 p m on Thursday evening he would be playing, the ATP having failed to raise Mantilla.
Spain's Carlos Moya, who will play Kafelnikov in today's semi-finals, told Spanish journalists that he believed not enough effort had been made to get either Corretja or Mantilla here last night. Certainly the Spanish press were able to get hold of Mantilla more quickly that the ATP.
Earlier yesterday Sampras, the holder, had thumped Rafter, the US Open champion 6-4, 6-1 to reach today's other semi-final against Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman, who in turn defeated Michael Chang, the world's number two, in straight sets 6-4, 7-5.
Guardian Service
