Tim Henman has called for 'People's Sunday' to become an annual event at Wimbledon after beating Morocco's Hicham Arazi to move into the fourth round for the ninth year in a row.

Cheered on by a fanatical partisan crowd who had queued from Saturday night for the 11,000 tickets on sale, Henman beat Arazi 7-6 6-3 3-6 6-2 on Centre Court.

The British number one recovered from 2-0 down in the fourth set to win the next six games, and thanked the crowd for their part in his revival which sets up a last 16 clash with last year's beaten finalist Mark Philippoussis.

''It's phenomenal,'' said Henman, who also played on the last such occasion in 1997, beating Paul Haarhuis 14-12 in the fifth set.

''I'm so lucky to have the opportunity of playing on the middle Sunday twice.

''In 1997 my match was on the exciting side as well and it's a phenomenal atmosphere.

''The atmosphere when I play here is great but this is different, there's no doubting that.

''They are true fans to be out there queueing and down 2-0 in the fourth set they definitely helped me get kick-started and pick up my level.

''I would like it every year. We play on the middle Sunday at every other Slam but it's one of the traditions here to have a day off and I can understand how from the organisation point of view it's difficult.

''But when you get the opportunity to play in an atmosphere like that it's incredible.

''I'm not criticising the fans who come the other 13 days but those here today are passionate about the game and supporting me and it's something that could be capitalised on, to give them the opportunity of coming to the most prestigious tournament in the world.

''I think it's something that's worked unbelievably well. Unfortunately it's not my decision at the moment but when I'm chairman of the All England Club I'll bring it in!

''In Paris they have a kids' day on Wednesdays at most tournaments and get a phenomenal turnout. I'm sure it's a good thing for the game over there and perhaps this is something we could use.''

Henman certainly used, and needed, the support, going a break down in each set and although he was able to fight back and win the first two, lost the third and looked certain to lose the fourth as well.

Having already dropped his serve to trail 2-0, Henman faced three more break points but crucially held his nerve in what proved to be the turning point of the match.

Arazi, who had won the last two matches between the two, including a Davis Cup tie in Morocco last year which saw Britain relegated from the World Group, was clearly dwelling on those missed opportunities as he immediately dropped his serve and Henman took six games in a row to seal victory.

''I give Arazi a lot of credit. He was making life difficult, the wind was swirling around and you can't always play the quality of tennis you like,'' added Henman.

''My level had dipped a bit but from 2-0 down in the fourth to finish it off 6-2 was very satisfying.''

Henman admitted, however, that he has not perfected the art of using the crowd to his advantage after making a conscious decision to show less emotion on court, an approach which paid dividends when he reached the semi-final of the French Open earlier this month.

''I still don't feel that I've got the balance quite right,'' he added.

''It's great to know I've got that support but having said that, I've been so calm and so relaxed and showing so little emotion that I've had the greatest success that I've had in my career with my overall performance in the last seven months and now I feel like I have to do something different.

''It's a nice problem to have when you're trying to make sure that the crowd are involved as much as possible.''

Henman has lost four of his six matches with Philippoussis, most significantly in five sets at the same stage at Wimbledon four years ago, the earliest exit he has made from the All England Club for eight years.

But although he admits he will have to play better to beat the big-serving Australian, he feels Philippoussis' style of play will be easier to handle than Arazi.

''I'm looking forward to it,'' added the 29-year-old fifth seed.

''In some respects it's a much more straight-forward match for me. I very much know the way that he's going to play.

''And he plays it very well. He serves big and sometimes there isn't a great deal you can do. I think in 2000 he served 35 aces on the day and was too good for me.

''But I think the way that I've been playing and perhaps the changing conditions, it suits me well. I can play better and I think I will given the style of play I'm going to play against."