Tim Henman statement

20/8/07 11:49 AM


After today’s speculation in the British press regarding my future in tennis, I will be holding a press conference in New York at 11:00am local time on Thursday 23 August when I will discuss my plans for the remainder of 2007.

Until then, I’ll continue to work hard on regaining full fitness ahead of the US Open which begins next Monday.

from tims os thanks!

thinking on there is probably only going to me who posts on this thread !!!
oooooppp hahahaha nevermind any Tim fans come on !!!
post post post !!!

why? what's wrong with him and what's going on in the english press?

After much speculation in the media, particularly throughout this year with Tims rather "unspectacular " results, it would appear that he is about to bow out gracefully at the end of the year!
Although a great "crowd puller" in the U.K. this I feel was due to the lack of any competition, rather than Tims performance on the tennis courts!
Despite this, Tim will leave a large void in the U.K. tennis world, not to mention "Henman Hill" at Wimbledon!!!!
Hopefully he will remain in the game, for the benefit of our youngsters!

but to me he still seems eager to play and also to win matches...i always liked the way he played and therefore hope he will go till the end of at least this season

Tim Henman could confirm his imminent retirement from tennis later this week after he yesterday called a news conference for Thursday in New York, ahead of the US Open, to talk about his "plans for the remainder of 2007".

Some in tennis expect him to announce that he will put his rackets away for good after next month's Davis Cup tie at Wimbledon.


Decision time: Tim Henman will reveal his plans in New York
Henman, Britain's most successful male tennis player of the modern era, pulled out of this week's US Open warm-up tournament in New Haven because of discomfort from his recurring back problem.

However, he is hoping that the pain will ease sufficiently to allow him to play at the final grand slam of the season on the cement of Flushing Meadows, and then represent his country against Croatia at the All England Club. Henman suggested last week that he would play the two events, and then look at his plans for the future.

Last night, Henman said in a statement: "After today's speculation in the British press regarding my future in tennis, I will be holding a press conference in New York on Thursday, when I will discuss my plans for the remainder of 2007.

Until then, I'll continue to work hard on regaining full fitness ahead of the US Open."

Jan Felgate, Henman's agent, has declined to confirm reports that the player has already made a firm decision to quit after the tie in late September.

Henman has won only three matches on the tour this season, with his ranking spiralling to 92 in the world. But a comment from Henman on his official website yesterday implied that he has not discounted the possibility of playing on during the European indoor season in the autumn, including the two Masters Series tournaments in Madrid and Paris. "I would love to play in Paris, but it will be tough to do so if I don't get my ranking up a bit higher and

I'm not fully fit, so my focus at the moment is to try to get my back sorted out and then to take it from there," said Henman, who turns 33 next month.

Henman's wife, Lucy, is due to give birth to their third child next month, but he has suggested that his family responsibilities have not reduced his competitive instincts.

He said: "Having a family has certainly changed the way I look at the world, and also to a certain extent my priorities in life, but I would not go so far as to say that it has diminished my hunger for the game.

I still really enjoy practising and training and also playing matches, it's just frustrating that my body has struggled to cope with what I've been asking it to do in the past couple of years."

John Lloyd, Great Britain's Davis Cup captain, said he was unaware that Henman had made up his mind to put his rackets away after the tie against Croatia. He added: "I would be surprised if Tim has already decided that, whatever happens in the US Open and the Davis Cup, he will retire after the Davis Cup. There is a chance that Tim may retire after the Davis Cup, but I don't think he has made that decision already."


Andy murray.

Uncertainty abounded in British tennis yesterday, as it is by no means clear that Andy Murray will feature at the US Open.

Murray has played two tournaments since returning from a wrist injury, but pulled out of New Haven as he did not feel ready to compete.

He has returned to Britain, and has been training at the Lawn Tennis Association's headquarters in London. However, his agent, Patricio Apey, said yesterday that he would be "very surprised" if the British No 1 did not play in New York.

Tims bio

Career record: 494-271
Career titles: 11
Highest ranking: No. 4 (August 7, 2002)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open 4th (2000, 2001, 2002)
French Open SF (2004)
Wimbledon SF (1998, 1999, 2001, 2002)
U.S. Open SF (2004)
Doubles
Career record: 87-80
Career titles: 4
Highest ranking: No. 62 (February 21, 2000)


Olympic medal record
Men's Tennis
Silver 1996 Atlanta Doubles

very nice words from james blake about tim henman

Blake: Henman deserves respect

James Blake has called on the English press to give Tim Henman the respect he deserves, if, as expected, the former British number one announces his retirement on Thursday.

The American says that Henman's achievements gives him the right to retire on his own terms, and says that the British public might not fully realise what they had with Henman until his gone.

As hard as the English press and some of the public have been on him in his career, I would love to see him now get the respect he deserves because they will miss him when he is gone, said Blake.

I think it's totally up to him if he chooses to retire because as much as he has done for the sport in England and for the LTA, he deserves to do it all on his own terms. If he feels it's time then everybody should respect that he has earned that right.

Blake also said that if Henman did choose to carry on then he would definitely still have the talent to make an impact, and also picked the Briton as a sleeper for the US Open.

I know he has got it in him but so many people are suggesting he should retire, maybe he has reached that decision," said Blake.

He could quite easily get to the second week of the US Open and it might convince him to carry on.

U.S. Open - Henman faces Tursunov test
Eurosport - Wed, 22 Aug 18:41:00 2007
Former British number one Tim Henman has been handed a challenging opening test against 27th seed Dmitry Tursunov in the first round of the US Open.

Henman to announce fate this week
The Oxford ace will play Russia's Tursunov, who recently won an ATP hardcourt title in Indianapolis, in what could be his final tournament.

The 32-year-old Henman has set a Thursday press conference to announce his future plans after rumours over his retirement circulated throughout the British press at the start of the week.

If Henman manages to beat Tursunov he would then have to face either Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Spain's Oscar Hernandez.

If the 2004 Flushing Meadows semi-finalist reaches the third round he would likely have to face world number two Rafael Nadal.

Tursunov beat Henman 7-6(7) 3-6 6-2 in the round of 16 at Nottingham earlier this year and has won five of their six meetings, including victories at Roland Garros, the Australian Open, and Wimbledon.

"It's a tough draw. He hits the ball hard and can hurt you from anywhere on the court," Henman said.

"His game is based around his big serve and huge groundstrokes and he can be intimidating to play when he's confident and in the right mood.

"He likes playing in America as the conditions suit his game so it's going to be a big challenge for me, no question about it.

"I'm going to have to serve well and take my chances. We've played quite a few times so I know what to expect and so does he, so it will pretty much depend on who plays best on the day."

Timbo is amazing, he has always been one of my favourite players that are still in activity nowadays and there are very few, like Carlos Moya for example...after many years he's still there, in the top seed positions, he's great.
My hope and desire is too see him again, even if for the last time, at next Wimbledon! There he always gives 100%.

ATP Tour - Henman announces retirement
Eurosport - Thu, 23 Aug 17:42:00 2007
Tim Henman has announced his plans to retire from professional tennis effective next month, bringing an end to the career of Britain's top Open Era men's tennis player.

Henman will quit after the September 21-23 Davis Cup tie against Croatia at Wimbledon, he announced at a press conference in New York where he is preparing for his final US Open campaign.

"I am going to be retiring after the Davis Cup against Croatia at Wimbledon," Henman said.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't able to sort of let you know first hand in person, but that was kind of taken out of my control," Henman added, commenting on the media speculation that preceded the announcement.

Henman, who turns 33-year-old old on September 6, is Britain's most successful Open Era player having reached an ATP ranking of world number four and won 11 career ATP titles.

His wife Lucy is expecting their third child and he has struggled with back and knee injuries for the past year.

"From a professional point of view, it's something I've been thinking about for some time," said Henman.

"The way that [the issues with my back] have affected my performance have obviously made my life a little bit harder, a little bit less enjoyable."

"With my third child on my way, there's obviously a bigger incentive to be at home."

"It's not necessarily the end of things for me, it's obviously a new beginning."

The British number two said he made the decision three weeks ago after losing in the first-round at the Washington Classic - a tournament he won in 2003.

"I didn't want to keep plugging away with the limited rewards that I was going to get," Henman said.

"Around Washington time, that is when I pretty much knew that I wanted to stop."

Henman has struggled to 3-11 tour record this season, with two additional wins coming in Davis Cup play against the Netherlands in April.

The Oxford ace, who has a 494-273 lifetime singles record, reached four Wimbledon semi-finals and semi-finals at both the US Open and Roland Garros, but never made it to a grand slam final.

Henman ruled out returning for one last go at Wimbledon next year.

"For me to hang around another nine months just to play Wimbledon for the sake of it, doesn't appeal to me. But to play the Davis Cup there will be very special," he said.

"I'm sure if I was asked 'do I want to go back and play Wimbledon one last time?' I really feel the simple answer is 'no'."

Henman praised the future prospects for British tennis, commenting that the LTA was doing a fine job to set down a solid foundation and that he would consider one day working to help develop young British players.

"I'd absolutely be interested in being involved, whenever that may be, because I believe now there's a structure in place where you can certainly see things happening," he said.

Henman reached a career high of fourth in the world in July 2002 and won the prestigious Paris Masters one season later, but his ranking has since plummeted to 92nd in the world after a rash of injuries.

Henman has been drawn to face Russia's 27th seed Dmitry Tursunov in the opening round of the US Open, which starts on Monday.

"I'd like to feel there's going to be a lot of new opportunities out there for me and lots of new things to explore," Henman said, indicating he would be interested in a possible career in coaching after a break from the sport.

"I'm looking forward to stepping away from things.

"If it's next year or the year after, I'll look at what's out there. I'm sure that will involve tennis.

"It's been such a good part of my life."

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I am without words....

i am as well...

i know this news is so sad i hate that he is retiring , but understand he has family and the injuries