It's the first victory he hopes will put him on the road to becoming the first Briton to win the men's title since Fred Perry in 1936. And the fires of ambition burn brightly. 'I've got to keep working, got to keep trying to progress,' he said.
'People are entitled to their opinions and my career will be judged on whether I win Wimbledon or not.
'Can I control that? Do I agree with that? No to both questions but that's life. Plenty of things in life ain't fair.'
Only once in the past nine years - in 2000 when he exited in the fourth round - has Henman failed to make at least the last eight at the All England Club.
Had he not faced legendary American Pete Sampras in two of those semifinals and Lleyton Hewitt when he was at his peak in another, he would surely have reached at least one final.
And were it not for the rain in 2001 when he was blowing Goran Ivanisevic away in the last four, he would probably have his name engraved on the trophy already.
Now he just has to find a way past Roger Federer and Andy Roddick as well as French Open champion Rafael Nadal. As Henman said: 'Life ain't fair.'
