Most of us British tennis patriots hope, like Ron Wood (Letters, June 24), to see Tim Henman win this year's Wimbledon men's championship.

Although I hope to eat my words, I fear that is a forlorn hope.

Tim lacks the killer instinct - refusing to perfect the gamesmanship gambits and ploys invented by Stephen Potter in the Thirties.

His ideas drew on a ploy by his tennis partner, Cyril "Brains Trust" Joad, during a doubles match against two younger, more athletic men.

The older players were hopelessly outclassed and were one point from losing the set when Joad's return of serve volleyed against the back fence, way out.

Then Joad employed his gambit. While his opponents positioned themselves for their expected final serve he said in a sharp, distinct tone, "Kindly say clearly whether the ball was in or out."

The server stopped abruptly. He and his partner - both well-mannered, young Englishmen - apologised quite unnecessarily, saying "Do let's have it again."

"No," said Joad crisply. "I only want you to say clearly whether the ball was in or out."

A tense and uncomfortable atmosphere developed on the court. The implication, unstated but disconcerting, was that the young men were acting unsportingly.

Their balance of mind was thrown. Their play declined. Joad and Potter won the game and ultimately the match.

So emerged Stephen Potter's notion of gamesmanship, with its key element of winning games without actually cheating.

John McEnroe was expert at it but he was also a superbly gifted tennis player. Good luck, Tim.

-Richard W Symonds, The Joad Society, Ifield