Henman: I didn't hit a tennis ball for 1½ years

Published on Saturday 3 October 2009 19:43

FORMER tennis star Tim Henman has revealed that he did not hit a tennis ball for 17 months after his retirement from the game two years ago.

In an exclusive interview with Scotland on Sunday, Henman, the 35-year-old former British No1, says he now spends his leisure time playing golf and has recently become a scratch (no handicap) player.

However, he says he has no intentions of following other former tennis professionals – such as Ivan Lendl – into the professional level of the game.

Henman, who was taking part in the Dunhill Championship pro-am event at St Andrews this weekend, admitted: "I'm not good enough, but even if I was, it's not something I would want."

He now prefers spending time with his wife and three young daughters, which is why he now so rarely picks up a tennis racquet despite his lifelong dedication to the sport.

Henman said he relishes being away from the merry-go-round of training, travelling and tournaments.

After his high-profile years as the "Golden Boy" of British tennis he was, in any case, very much in demand as a media pundit.

He was also offered – within half-an-hour of his retirement – a place on BBC1's top-rated Strictly Come Dancing celebrity dance competition.

But he rejected the offer immediately, as he has ever since: "My official reply then, and for the last three years, has been that I would rather stick pins in my eyes. There is not a chance in hell of me ever going on something like that.

"Firstly, I hate that sort of thing. I was never interested in the fame game, the celebrity. And secondly, I am possibly the worst dancer in history. It's not a great combination."