LONDON, June 29 (UPI) -- Fourth seeds Tim Henman of Britain and Monica Seles of the United States overcame tough opponents Saturday to continue their respective quests for an elusive Wimbledon title.
No. 1 seed and two-time defending champion Venus Williams, meanwhile, survived an unlikely start to survive in three sets against Canada's Maureen Drake, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.
Henman recorded five service breaks Saturday en route to a 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-1 triumph in the third round over Wayne Ferreira of South Africa.
Despite dropping a set for the first time in nine career matches against Ai Sugiyama of Japan, Seles reached the fourth round, rallying for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory.
A semifinalist here three times in the last four years, Henman is the host nation's best hope of ending the 66-year drought of having a men's singles winner at the All-England Club.
Seles, meanwhile, has won nine career Grand Slam titles but has never captured the Wimbledon crown. Her best result came in 1992, when she was the runner-up to Steffi Graf.
"I started off very sluggishly," Seles said. "I knew this is the surface that suits her game the most. I knew she would be a tough opponent today. I had a good wake-up call when I lost that first set. It made me really play and be more focused."
Having split the first two sets, Ferreira had a 4-1 advantage in the third-set tiebreak when chair umpire Jorge Dias of Portugal overruled a linesjudge's ruling, giving the point to Henman.
Television replays showed the ball clearly hit the line as chalk exploded into the air.
Ferreira disputed the call and the incident seemed to rattle the South African, giving the momentum to Henman.
"I think it's shocking. There is absolutely nothing I can do about it," Ferreira said. "I was obviously annoyed because I would have been 5-1 instead of 4-2. I gave him the benefit of the doubt that it was out. But I have been told by a few people that it was in. So obviously, I'm more (angry) now."
Henman expressed sympathy.
"It was obviously a pretty tight call one way or the other and the umpire made a decision, that's his job," Henman said. "I would have to see it on TV. If on TV it says it was in, then I'm sure Wayne's got every right to feel disappointed."
After Henman secured the third set, he needed just 29 minutes to close the match.
The tense affair between two grasscourt specialists also featured a remarkable atmosphere on Centre Court. Henman was supported by his usual legion of fans. But with the significant number of South Africans who live in and visit London, Ferreira also had a large chorus of backers.
"It was great, the best atmosphere I think I've ever played in," Ferreira said. "It was one of the most unbelievable matches I've played as far as people following me and shouting for me. Even though I lost today, I had a wonderful time. I enjoyed every minute of it."
"I think with the support that he had, and the obvious support that I had, I think the atmosphere was incredible," Henman said. "That makes it all the more enjoyable for both of us. But certainly, more so for me having won."
Henman's fourth-round opponent will be Michel Kratochvil of Switzerland, who advanced with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 win over Czech qualifier Radek Stepanek.
By contrast, top seed Lleyton Hewitt rolled into the fourth round on Saturday. The 21-year-old Australian fired 16 aces and needed just 87 minutes to dispose of Julian Knowle of Austria, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3.
In the round of 16, Hewitt faces Mikhail Youzhny. The Russian knocked out No. 16 Nicolas Escude of France, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4.
In an event that has seen favorites fall at a surprising rate, No. 18 Sjeng Schalken of The Netherlands joined Hewitt and Henman as the only seeds left in the bottom half of the draw.
Schalken got past American Jeff Morrison, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7), 6-0, to set up a fourth-round encounter with Jiri Vacek of the Czech Republic, who defeated Adrian Voinea of Romania, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Feliciano Lopez of Spain and Andre Sa also moved into the last 16. Lopez battled past No. 17 Rainer Schuettler of Germany, 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-4, 6-4, and Sa rallied to beat fellow Brazilian Flavio Saretta, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.
Williams' next opponent will be fellow American and 16th seed Lisa Raymond, who rallied to beat 1994 champion, Conchita Martinez of Spain, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Williams lost the first eight points of the match, eventually evened the first set and then had her service broken again to lose a set for the first time in the tournament. But she dominated her Canadian opponent over the final two sets.
No. 6 Justine Henin of Belgium and No. 12 Elena Dementieva of Russia will clash in the round of 16. Henin beat Swiss qualifier Myriam Casanova, 6-4, 6-4, and Dementieva conquered No. 23 Iva Majoli of Croatia, 7-5, 6-2.
No. 19 Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria made the fourth round for the second straight year, knocking off No. 10 Silvia Farina Elia of Italy, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4. Her next opponent will be Russia's Elena Likhovtseva, who defeated Britain's Elena Baltacha, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).
No. 20 Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand also made it to the last 16 after her 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 win over Meilen Tu of the United States. Tanasugarn is rewarded with a match against Seles.
