"You raise the intensity, you raise the level of emotion." A blueprint for success, possibly; the words of a champion, definitely.

It is hardly surprising therefore that those words belong to Pete Sampras, uttered 90 seconds after defeating Tim Henman before a mainly English and patriotically vociferous crowd on Centre Court at Wimbledon.

Sampras used the adversity of the crowd and some horrendous line calls to fuel his adrenalin levels, harden his mental resolve and conjure from within the requisite quality of tennis to edge past a gallant Henman challenge in four sets, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. The champion had to scale lofty heights to subdue an opponent who bore the expectation of a nation with dignity and great skill.

This was a gripping contest for three sets with the outcome firmly in doubt. The defining moment of the contest came in the 12th game of the third set, when Sampras broke to copper-fasten a two sets to one advantage. A furtive glance to coach David Felgate betrayed Henman's anxiety, in stark contrast to his opponent's clenched fist and fiery demeanour.

The 23-year-old Englishman mustered one final assault, forging a break point on Sampras's opening service game of the fourth set. The champion responded in a manner in which one has come to expect, serving two aces in winning the next three points: he would never allow his opponent another opportunity.

His progress through the final set was one with which the crowd have become well versed, unassailable on serve and offering claustrophobic pressure on return. It was the latter aspect of his arsenal that conjured a break in the fourth game, Henman contributing with two double faults.

The rest of the match passed in a blur for both the local boy and his adoring legions, Sampras ruthlessly efficient, much as he had begun the match.

It was only in the second set that Sampras looked vulnerable, confused by Henman's decision to protect his second serve by staying back. It worked beautifully as the American began to hit short balls, which Henman punished.

Sampras would later single out his superior second serve as probably the key difference between the combatants. He would also pay tribute to his young rival. "I thought the standard of tennis was excellent, particularly in the third set. That was the key, I think he knew that as well. I was just able to raise my game that little bit and thankfully it was enough.

"There's no doubt though that Tim will win this tournament some day. He has no real holes in his game and is one of the best all-court players. He'll have learnt from that experience and go on from there."

Henman, voice quivering with emotion, admitted to being disappointed but conceded that his opponent had played the big points better. He emphatically backed Sampras to go on and win his fifth singles title.

There was more than a touch of gallows humour as Goran Ivanisevic recounted the temporary insanity that almost caused him to lose the second semi-final against Richard Krajicek. He conceded that it was fair to say he won the match twice, having convinced himself that when he had a match point at two sets to one, 5-3 up and 40-15 ahead, he had served an ace.

"I heard the machine, I couldn't believe it. I didn't hear the net but I heard that thing go beep. I said, `okay it's 40-15, I'm serving okay and now I'm going to hit another good serve' - but he hit one of the best returns in the match. No problem, 40-30. I double fault, get nervous, have chances in the tiebreak and then lose the set.

"The fifth set was a horror thriller, he broke me, I broke him."

A mental roller-coaster for the players, the fare made for compelling viewing, even if play was abbreviated by the dominance of serve. Points were keenly if quickly disputed and as the game count reached 13-13, stamina entered the equation, although one interviewer offered that because the rallies were short-lived neither player appeared tired.

Ivanisevic's reply drew guffaws of laughter: "I was very tired. My ass was sore like hell. I tell you maybe it doesn't look like that from up there but I didn't want to do anything stupid, so I don't get cramps. I was just walking nice and slowly."

That the Croatian deserved his triumph is indisputable. With Krajicek struggling to find rhythm on serve and muster a decent backhand return, Ivanisevic raced through the first two sets and it was sheer carelessness that cost him the third and fourth.

The tournament would be poorer for his absence and it was with great delight that the crowd acclaimed his passage to a third final. But he will need extraordinary mental resilience if he is enjoy ultimate glory this time.