Tim Henman on Andy Murray’s comeback and his coaching ambitions

Kevin Palmer
Tim Henman

Former British No 1 Tim Henman has backed Andy Murray to be ‘ready to go’ when tennis resumes, as he confirmed the Scot was edging close to a return to action when the ATP Tour was shut down in March due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Murray has yet to hit a ball in competition this year after a pelvic issue halted his hopes of a fast start to this year, but Henman believes he will be ready to return to the game after he watched him in action at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre in London last month.

“I saw Andy playing at the NTC and he looked like he was moving more freely, pushing his hip more and more, so it’s a shame that this has happened,” Henman said.

“He has had to be patient for three years now. Pretty much since he lost to (Sam) Querrey at Wimbledon in 2017 when he was pretty much playing on one leg, he will be frustrated if he is ready to come back and now can’t. If and when the time is right, he will be ready to go.”

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Murray asked Henman to coach the Great Britain side at the ATP Cup event in Australia at the start of 2020, sparking suggestions that the four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist may be tempted to make his first steps into full-time coaching.

Yet Henman has told Tennis365 that he will not be tempted to make a full-time return to the game, despite some high-profile offers coming his way in recent years.

Tim Henman podcast - Changing Room Chat

“I really enjoyed the ATP Cup,” added Henman. “Being around the players, the practice, the event was fantastic and very well run. We had so many of the top players there, but there was a start point and an end point that was important for me.

“For me, the unappealing element of coaching is travelling. I have a family and having travelled so much as a player, that doesn’t appeal to me now. If you don’t want to travel, coaching is probably not the industry for you.

“I’ve had different offers and it is not that I don’t enjoy the game, but unless something dramatic changes, I don’t see myself coaching a player.

“With the ATP Cup, the captain is chosen by the No 1 player and if I was asked to do it again, there is a good chance I’d say yes.”

Listen to the full ‘Tim Henman Changing Room Chat’ in association with Henman Communications here – https://www.henmancom.com/index.php/changing-room-chat

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