ATP Tour - Murray: "You'll be missed Tim"
Eurosport - Thu, 23 Aug 17:43:00 2007
Current British number one Andy Murray praised the "amazing career" of his predecessor Tim Henman after the 32-year-old announced his retirement from professional tennis. Read all of the reaction to Henman's departure.

British number one Andy Murray: "Obviously Tim has been a massive part of British tennis over the last decade, and I just wanted to acknowledge that myself. I don't think people fully realise what an amazing career Tim has had. If you make six Grand Slam semi-finals, four of them at Wimbledon, and get to four in the world, you're pretty damn good. Nobody on the tour ever took Tim for granted that's for sure. We've been really lucky to have him representing us, and I've been really lucky to have him as a team-mate. He's just been a legend as far as British tennis is concerned, and I hope that he stays involved in the future because we need people like him around. Cheers Tim, you'll be missed...."

LTA chief executive Roger Draper: "He's been in six grand slam semi-finals, been number four in the world and has performed in Britain's Davis Cup team - he's been an outstanding tennis player. People in Britain will always judge whether we've got a Wimbledon champion but he's been to four semis in the era of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Roger Federer. He's right up there in terms of British sports people who have been the top of their trade. He'll reflect on some matches and will be disappointed but overall in the 15-16 year period he's been the most consistent player on the tour and we've got to celebrate that success."

Former British number one and fellow retiree Greg Rusedski: "Physically he wasn't feeling as well as he'd like - but he's had an absolutely brilliant career... his record at Wimbledon for consistency is unparalleled. When you're thinking of retiring, you're watching guys like Fed (Federer), (Novak) Djokovic and (Rafael) Nadal and thinking 'can I compete with these?' You start to question whether you enjoy doing it day in, day out and you think 'I can't physically do it' and Tim has decided to move on and change his lifestyle after the Davis Cup. It's very difficult because you get the buzz of playing in front of a good crowd and winning matches. But with a good family and support group behind you, you can deal with the challenges. I felt it was reasonably easy, I got into working with younger kids - and hopefully Tim will too. It will be interesting to see what happens after he hangs his racket up."

Tim to play in Davis cup tie against croatia.
Davis Cup - Lloyd names Davis Cup squad

Jamie Baker joins Andy Murray, Jamie Murray, and Tim Henman in the British Davis Cup squad to face Croatia next month after captain John Lloyd announced the team.

Henman will be making his final professional appearance in the tie after announcing his retirement earlier this month.

Despite a poor recent run of form for Henman and the wrist injury of British number one Andy Murray, Lloyd is still taking a positive approach ahead of the tie.

"I am confident that we are fully capable of winning the tie and securing our place among the elite tennis nations in 2008," said Lloyd.

Croatia could call on both Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic for the September 21-23 tie at Wimbledon.

"Croatia's record in the competition speaks for itself but I have picked world class players.

"Next month's tie promises to be a very special occasion not only for Tim and the team but for the British public and I would urge tennis fans to come along to watch a remarkable athlete bid farewell to his international tennis career."

The winner will join 15 other nations in the 2008 World Group in 2008 and the loser will join the Euro/Africa zone group one.

U.S. Open - Henman starts in style

[b]Tims last tournament .

Tim Henman starts his US Open campaign with a 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over 27th seeded Dmitry Tursunov in the opening match of his farewell tournament.

Henman, who will retire at the end of next month after Britain's Davis Cup tie against Croatia, looked like the serve-and-volley star who reached the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows in 2004 utterly dismantling the dangerous Russian.

The former British number one, who had a 1-5 record against Tursunov coming into the match, hit a whopping 54 winners and finished with 13 aces.

The 32-year-old faces Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round after the Frenchman eased past Spaniard Osca Hernandez.

COME ON TIM.......................

Henman puts his goodbyes on hold

29/8/07 6:36


Tim Henman delayed his retirement from the ATP Tour with a vintage performance to beat bogeyman Dmitry Tursunov at the US Open on Wednesday.

The British No.2 clinched a decisive third set and kept his foot on the gas to wrap up a 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory, only his second success in seven attempts against the 27th seed.

Just five days after announcing his retirement from professional tennis next month, Henman looked far from ready to hang up his rackets, dismantling his opponent with accurate serving, well-timed net approaches and crisp volleys.

The victory extends his Grand Slam career by at least another match. Indeed, he will fancy his chances of extending his run when he squares up to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in round two on Friday.

“It was great today,” Henman told Sky television afterwards. “I’d lost to him in all four Slams and it’s great to get a win – it’s very satisfying.

“There aren’t going to be too many more opportunities to play in an arena like this again and it was special today.

“My game got better and better. I served consistently and didn’t give him many angles – I served into his body a lot today. And I put lots of pressure on his serve.”

The opening set was ultimately decided in game nine, when Henman reeled off four successive points to break for 5-4. He kept faith in his attacking play in the next game and it paid off on his second set point when he went ahead thanks to a razor-sharp forehand volley.

Tursunov hit a brief purple patch in the second and some sustained pressure on the Henman serve was rewarded with a break to go 4-2 in front. The powerful Russian closed out the set soon afterwards to put the Henman victory in doubt.

Henman’s task was made somewhat easier in the third when Tursunov’s first serve deserted him, the right-hander finding the target with only 24% of deliveries.

Having swapped breaks in the first four games of the set, Henman regained control when another two world class volleys helped secure a break at 4-4 before the Englishman held to 30 to go two sets to one ahead.

From that point Tursunov was always under pressure. He saved two break points in the opening game of the fourth but could do nothing to stop Henman taking his serve in the third game.

Despite the Russian breaking back, Henman struck again to go 3-2 ahead and never looked like relinquishing his advantage thereafter.

U.S. Open - Henman: I have nothing to lose

Eurosport - Fri, 31 Aug 17:32:00 2007

Tim Henman says he wants to go out on a high as the British two continues his farewell tournament with a second-round match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at Flushing Meadows. Follow LIVE coverage of Tiger Tim's match from around 20:00BST on eursport.yahoo.com!

"When you say I've got nothing to lose and a lot to gain, I think that's spot on," the 2004 US Open semi-finalist said after his first-round win over Dmitry Tursunov.

Henman is playing in his final tournament after announcing he will retire after next month's Davis Cup tie against Croatia.

"I feel like I want to play these last two events and give them everything," the 32-year-old said. "If I do play well and go out on a high, whatever that means, it will mean a lot to me."

Henman will first have to get past the 22-year-old Tsonga, who has done well of late reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon and upsetting defending Lleyton Hewitt at Queen's Club earlier this year.

Henman, meanwhile, has decided to retire partly because of a back injury that has caused him to struggle to a 5-11 record for the year.

But after an impressive opening win against the 27th seed Russian Tursunov, who had beaten the Oxford man in five of six previous meetings, Henman says he is confident his body will hold up against Tsonga.

"I felt great on the court. And I think it will be fine tomorrow," the four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist said.

"I understand once you start playing back to back, the work load increases, it can get sore. But I think I should be all right."

Henman, who has not won back-to-back matches in tournament play since October of last year, praised the Frenchman's performances during the grass-court season, but said his own confidence was at a high coming into the match.

"I saw him play a little bit before the grass court tournaments in England. He was impressive. He played some great tennis."

"I don't think he's too dissimilar from Tursunov. He's a great athlete, serves big, hits the ball aggressively from the baseline."

"But I think if I can play in the same fashion as I did today, play at the same level, then I think I'll create opportunities. I think I'll have a good chance."

Tim's last appearance on the courts how fitting it should be at wimbledon

21/9/07


Davis Cup


Davis Cup: GB Vs Croatia


All England Club

good luck team gb and Tim ..........

i hope he'll be able to play his outstanding game the best way possible...it's always so special, playing like he does. oh and in addition the fans and all deserve only the best for their loyalty

Betfair Turbo Tennis

Start Date: 15/9/07 0:01 AM
End Date: 15/9/07 11:59
Event: Other
location: london


Tim Henman has signed up to play in a one-off tennis spectacular at the O2 Arena in London on September 15.

He will be joined on the day by British number one Andy Murray and his brother Jamie, as well as former Wimbledon champions Pat Cash and Goran Ivanisevic and American James Blake.

The matches at the ‘Betfair Turbo Tennis’ event will last just 30 minutes, and when the klaxon sounds the player in the lead will be declared the winner.

After five knock-out encounters the unbeaten champion will walk away with 100,000 US dollars in the winner-takes-all event.

”It should be a lot of fun and I’m really looking forward to it,” explained Henman. ”It will be nice to try something a bit different, which will also at the same time hopefully help broaden the appeal of tennis.

“Anything that helps send out the message to kids everywhere that tennis is fun has got to be worth backing.”

Hat-trick for Henman
14/9/07 12:50




Tim Henman became a father for the third time on Friday September 14 when his wife Lucy gave birth to Grace, who weighed eight pounds 11 ounces.

Grace joins Rose Elizabeth (Rosie), who was born on October 19 2002, and Olivia, who was born on December 15, 2004 in the Henman household.

The 33-year-old was due to play in the Betfair Turbo Tennis event at the O2 Arena on Saturday September 15 but for obvious reasons the British number two has been forced to withdraw.

“I was looking forward to playing but obviously I feel my place is with Lucy and the children at the moment,” explained the 33-year-old.

“The baby was due at the weekend so she’s arrived a little early. Even though it’s our third it’s still a wonderful experience and a very special time; we couldn’t be happier.”


some pics of the even bigger family now lol

Only registered users can see links on this board! Get registred or enter the forums!

Congrats to a great couple for the new arrival

Best wishes

well, at least he can be assured that his life after tennis won't be boring at all

wow, 8 pounds? a churry cherub, eh?

Davis Cup - Henman serves up last glory

Eurosport - Fri, 21 Sep 17:35:00 2007

Tim Henman won what could prove to be the last match of his career by beating Croatia's Roko Karanusic in straight sets 6-4 6-3 6-3 in the Davis Cup tie at Wimbledon.

The win on court number one puts Great Britain 2-0 ahead in the tie, the winner of whom will be promoted into the elite group of eight nations.

Henman was due to face Ivan Ljubicic in this match, but the Croatian pulled out just a few hours before the match with a serious urinary infection, for which he is now being treated.

Karanusic, ranked 191 in the world, was drafted in to replace Ljubicic, and the gulf in class was illustrated early in the first set, as Henman broke the Croat's serve in the third game and held to love in the next.

The former British number one was playing some clinical shots, and did not look like a man who was on the verge of retirement. Two breaks sealed the second set, but he did not have it so easy in the third.

After another two breaks Henman was serving for the match at 5-1, only for Karanusic to pull a break back. A high and wide return from the Croatian on Henman's next service sealed the victory for the former world number four, and was the cue for delirious celebrations from the partisan crowd.

A tearful Henman said: "It was very special. I'm so pleased with the way I played.

"I just tried to hit the ball really well and I think it showed in my performance.

"It's been a long journey. The crowd has given me so much support over the years.

"(Wimbledon's) a most special place for me to play, so thanks so much."

He did not rule out the possibility of one more match should the British team not seal the tie with a doubles victory on Saturday, saying: "If required, I'll be back because the job's not done.

"We've got options tomorrow, but we'll have a chat and discuss how everyone's feeling."

Davis Cup - Henman already struggling

Eurosport - Sun, 23 Sep 17:46:00 2007

Just one day after his final competitive match, Tim Henman says that retired life is already shaping up to be difficult.

Henman, who led Britain to a 4-1 victory over Croatia and into the Davis Cup World Group in a dream farewell over the weekend, says he had a strange feeling the morning after helping to seal the win.

"It's just bizarre because even when I haven't done anything for a day it's always been for a reason. It's been a rest day or a recovery day, but that isn't the case any more," Henman said.

"When I woke up this morning I thought, what's going on, there must be something round the corner, and there isn't. That will take time to adjust to and it's not something I will be able to do forever."

Henman, a six-time grand slam semi-finalist, eased past Roko Karanusic in the second single rubber on Friday and then partnered up with Jamie Murray to win a dramatic doubles match and clinch the tie on Saturday.

With no immediate job prospects - and with the recent birth of his third daughter - the 33-year-old Oxford ace plans to try to enjoy the career break.

"It'll just be nice to be at home and have no idea and no plan," Henman said. "To be able to mess around in my garden or go and play golf and not have any structure to it. There's plenty of good golf to be played."

The former world number four listed the victory over Croatia as among the greatest moments in his career and said he had not regrets about his 14-year-long professional life.

Henman did, however, describe his greatest disappointment as failing to reach the Wimbledon final in 2001 after losing a classic five-set match to Croatia's Goran Ivanisevic in one of four career trips to the semi-finals at the All England Club.

"I've got no regrets but I've got disappointments," Henman said. "My biggest disappointment was no doubt the Goran Ivanisevic match but what would I have done differently? I just don't second-guess myself.

"Last night when we were relaxing and enjoying ourselves I was reflecting on the fact that I am retired and it is definitely something that is going to take a long time to settle in.

"But I don't really have any great desire to play. I've hit enough tennis balls in my life and I think also the feeling that I have had over the whole weekend, the way I played is such a great memory and something I will hold with me forever."

Henman celebrated his farewell with a team dinner at trendy London Japanese restaurant Nobu, and said he had already noticed a change at the party.

"I've never shied away from having a couple of drinks but it was good to be able not to have to worry about it," Henman smiled.

"There were quite a few dead bottles of champagne in the locker room and it just kept flowing."

With the retirement of Henman - who finishes his career with a 40-14 Davis Cup record - and the similar departure of Greg Rusedski in April, Britain will now have to rely heavily on world number 18 Andy Murray to lead the team.

Murray, who won Sunday's first reverse singles to put Britain on the edge of a whitewash, said he was eager for the challenge of playing against the tennis' best players in next year's World Group.

"Except for Roger Federer in Switzerland I've never really played against the best players in the world [in Davis Cup]," the 20-year-old Scot said after the win.

"Now I have a chance of winning against them it's going to be exciting. Davis Cup does some funny things and if we get a couple of guys ranked between 120 and 150 in the world we have a team capable of winning matches in the World Group.

"I might have to alter my schedule to try and fit Davis Cup in and maybe I'll have to stay in Europe. I'll just have to wait and see what happens, but if I'm feeling 100 percent fit I'm going to play Davis Cup."

Former British number one Tim Henman has ruled himself out of contention for a job on Andy Murray's team of coaches and advisors.

After splitting with American coach Brad Gilbert last month, the British number one Murray announced plans to use a rotating team of experts and coaches to advise him.

"If you are going to do something like that, there is a lot of travel involved and that's something I'm enjoying not doing anymore," said Henman, who retired in September after helping lead Great Britain into the Davis Cup World Group.

The 20-year-old Murray ended his at-times tumultuous relationship with the former coach of Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick after 16 months together, two singles titles and a climb of more than 20 places in the ATP rankings.

Despite the LTA's heavy involvement in pairing up Gilbert with the young Scot, Henman says the decision by the world number 11 was one Murray had to make on his own.

"That's the nature of the beast. These things happen in an individual sport when you are working so closely in an environment," Henman said.

"Sometimes the lifespan of these relationships is not so long. But I think they did a good job together.

"They had a great run and it's important to focus on the positives they were able to achieve.

"Andy's made a decision that he wants to go in a different direction, and, as your own boss, that's your prerogative.

"He's now going to assemble the people around him and hopefully move forward from there."

Gilbert, who is still paid by the Lawn and Tennis Association, will continue to work with British number two Alex Bogdanovic.

Henman believes that by coaching Bogdanovic the American can continue to contribute to the improvement of British tennis.

"With Alex, it certainly isn't about his tennis ability," he said.

"He strikes the ball better than many players on the main tour but the areas where he needs the biggest improvement are mentally and physically and I know Brad is going to be on his case in a big way.

"Brad's knowledge and motivation could be of enormous benefit to Alex."

Henman added that since retiring he has turned down posts to work for the LTA in a player development capacity.

"I've been asked about it but I'm trying to put off any decision-making for as long as I can," he said.

"I am very much enjoying not having the structure in my life and having a very empty diary.

"I'm sure that will wear off. I would like to think I'll be involved in tennis in some way, shape or form in the future but I'm not sure in what capacity at the moment."