GORAN IVANISEVIC, the holder of the Grand Slam Cup, brought his total of aces of the year to over 1,500 on his way to a 6-4 6-4 quarter final victory in this year's event over Mark Woodforde in Munich's Olympiahalle yesterday.

Afterwards, Woodforde was quizzed about his strategy. "Well, you just try and get the bloody ball back over the net," he said.

It was something the Australian did not manage too often and his next best blueprint for victory was an attempt to drill the ball clean through the huge Croatian. On one volley Woodforde, with all the court to aim at, slammed his shot straight at Ivanisevic.

"It was the only way I was going to win the match, trying to injure him. But I didn't hit him hard enough."

It was all meant in reasonably good spirit although Ivanisevic was not particularly impressed. "He made a mistake. When he do that I get more angry and I hit ace, ace, and ace.

No change there. Ivanisevic began the year well with a clutch of titles, and is ending it in good form, but in between a Grand Slam has remained as elusive as ever.

"I would like to serve one ace and win a Grand Slam," he said a little mournfully. The Croatian's hair style - a plume gathered up from just above his forehead like something sticking out of a fancy cocktail - continues to be as much talked about as his ace count.

"I think young people, they like it. Old people, you know, they not so happy. It's tough to please old people. They are complaining too much.

In the second quarter final, Russia's Yevgeny Kafeluikov, the French Open champion, defeated Jim Courier of the US 2-6 6-4 8-6. There were breaks galore in the final set before Kafelnikov held his nerve. Courier has had a thoroughly poor year, dropping out of the top 10 and seemingly lacking motivation.

The huge prizemoney here concentrated his mind but Kafelnikov, the world's number three, has a passion for greenbacks himself.

Meanwhile, John McEnroe has been generous in his praise for Tim Henman, who faces plays Boris Becker in the tournament's semi final today.

"He's the best British player I've seen. No, the best British player I've ever seen." McEnroe's words rang out as clear as any argument he ever had with an umpire, and today Henman, after a year of outstanding advancement, tests his progress towards the sport's top echelons with a match against the most formidable opponent in Europe.

The £3.8 million Grand Slam Cup may not be the ultimate examination - these are reserved for the Grand Slams themselves in Melbourne, Paris, Wimbledon and New York - but currently Becker, by his own admission, is playing the best tennis of his life. A couple of weeks ago in the ATP Final in Hanover Becker pushed the world number one, Pete Sampras, to the very limits.

Henman was relaxed and positive yesterday. He is already guaranteed $431,250 for reaching this stage after victories over Michael Stich and MaliVai Washington.

"My goal before this tournament was to win it and I'm playing my best tennis ever now. I really haven't played a bad match recently," he said.

"It's going to be a tough match against Tim," said Becker.