Timing not right as Henman shuns Davis Cup captaincy

Published on Thursday 11 March 2010 22:04

TIM Henman has ruled himself out of the running to be Great Britain's next Davis Cup tennis captain because "it doesn't feel like the right time".

Incumbent John Lloyd is considering his future in the role after becoming the first GB captain to oversee five successive defeats when his side lost to Lithuania last weekend.

That defeat has left Great Britain on the verge of dropping into Europe/Africa Zone Group III, the lowest tier of the competition, and prompted calls for change within the team.

Henman, however, has ruled himself out of taking on the captain's role, although the 35-year-old admitted he would one day like to lead his country.

"Maybe in three years or in 13 years, sometime in the future, I might be interested in being the Davis Cup captain," the former world No4 explained.

"But it doesn't feel like the right time. I'm enjoying my family and my golf – and not having any structure in my life.

"For 28 of the first 33 years of my life tennis was what I did. I wouldn't change that and I'm sure at some stage I'm going to get more involved and give back to British tennis. But at the moment I would not want the commitment or the responsibility of being Davis Cup captain."

The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells is the main tennis tournament taking place this week, and there are a couple of Scots involved in California.

Yesterday, Elena Baltacha continued her recent impressive form by progressing to the second round of the women's singles with a 6-3, 6-7 (3-5), 6-4 victory over American wild card Alexa Glatch. In a lengthy battle, Baltacha made the most of a string of errors committed by Glatch.

However, fellow Brit Anne Keothavong fell at the first hurdle as she lost to Russia's Anna Chakvetadze, who fought back from losing the opening set to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Former world No1 Justine Henin breezed into the second round as she dispatched Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova 6-2, 6-2.

Playing in only her second tournament since ending an 18-month retirement – and her first since the Australian Open in January – Henin looked a long way from her best but was nevertheless too good for Rybarikova. Henin, one of six former champions in the field, is competing with a wild-card.

One other wild-card progressed yesterday as Australian Alicia Molik ousted Tatjana Malek of Germany 6-1, 6-3.

The other Scot in California is Andy Murray. The world No4 is returning to action for the first time since his second-round defeat in Dubai last month. Murray has been given a bye into the second round and is not expected to be on court until tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal is hoping to regain the Queen's Club title he won in 2008 after confirming his attendance at this year's event.

The Spaniard was unable to defend his crown last year after succumbing to a knee injury which also forced him out of Wimbledon. But he is relishing the chance to play once again at Queen's, with the tournament now sponsored by AEGON.

"I always look forward to coming to England to play at The Queen's Club and Wimbledon but this year there is even more motivation because I could not defend my titles last year," said Nadal, who joins US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro in making an early commitment to playing.

Last year's tournament was won by Murray following his straight sets triumph over James Blake.