Tim Henman interview: Andy Murray should carry on playing, as long as he’s enjoying it

Plans for grand farewells in tennis are all very well, but, as Tim Henman explains, a player also needs fate on his side to secure a happy retirement party.

The predecessor to Andy Murray as the great British hope remembers the exact moment that the ideal exit schedule was decided for him. “It was about 12.15-12.30 on the night that I lost to John Isner in the first round in Washington in 2007,” he says.

In a first-round defeat at the Legg Mason Classic, Henman had hit five double faults against the then wild card Isner. As he nursed his drink later that night, Henman suddenly saw the “finish line”.

“We were in a very nice hotel bar talking to my coach Paul Annacone. He was, and is, one of my best friends and I said to him: ‘For the first time ever, I think this is going to become my job, not my hobby.’ And he said very matter-of-factly: ‘Well if you are not enjoying it, why are you going to do it?’ And I said to him: ‘What, retire?’ And he said: ‘Why would you do it if you are not enjoying it?’ So I looked at my schedule and I had the two Masters 1000 in Canada and Cincinnati, US Open and then Davis Cup at Wimbledon against Croatia in the World Group qualifying. As that mapped out for me, I suddenly saw the finish line. I had two months left.”

For a player who endured serial setbacks as a defeated Wimbledon semi-finalist, his departure could not have been smoother.

“To finish at Wimbledon in front of a British crowd, I felt so fortunate,” he adds. “I played well and then I retired. I felt very fortunate because I understand how much more complex it is to finish your career.

“When you start your career, it is all out in front of you. You are ranked No 500 in the world and you want to be 200 in the world. You have got tournaments to play in and rankings points to chase. So, that is so much more straightforward. Hence when I made my decision and recognised my schedule, it couldn’t have been any better. And for me to stop in that fashion, I felt very fortunate... What Andy decides to do, that is his prerogative. I guess we’ll wait and see.”

So far, Murray – having appeared to be on the brink of retirement five years ago – is bowing out of the sport with less luck on his side. The plan had been for one last Wimbledon singles and doubles hurrah, but then a back problem flared up at Queen’s last week. Having had a procedure to remove a cyst, Murray will now make a decision “as late as possible” about a farewell appearance at SW19 – but says it is “more likely” he will be unable to play singles. Unlike Henman, however, there is little sign that Murray sees playing as a chore, despite the many signs that his body is giving up on him.

“I’ve said hundreds of times, if he is enjoying it, he should keep playing,” says Henman, 30 years on from his first senior appearance at Wimbledon. “It is the best job in the world. There is plenty of time to be retired. He has said that he doesn’t see himself playing on past this summer. He doesn’t need to be specific. But does that mean Wimbledon or the Olympics? Or the US Open? I don’t know. He should play as long as he wants to play.”

Henman, a member of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club board, says Murray has been “immense for British tennis”, but he is optimistic about the future for the British game.

“The British game is better than it has ever been for a long, long time,” he says. “Again, wind the clock back to when I was playing and there was myself and Greg [Rusedski], who didn’t come through our system. On the women’s side, it was pretty limited. Now when you look at it…they are not necessarily playing their best tennis right now but you have had Cam Norrie in the top 10. Evo [Dan Evans] has been top 25. You have had Andy around about it. Jack Draper, Liam Broady top 100. On the women’s side, you have got a good opportunity with [Katie] Boulter playing exceptionally well. Emma [Raducanu] on the way back. Jodie Burrage has been top 100. Then some of the much younger girls, probably led by Hannah Klugman... I am much more positive than I have been for the last 10 years about the British game.”

One area on which Henman, who will resume BBC commentary duties for Wimbledon coverage on Monday, is less upbeat is the rise of Saudi Arabian influence on sport. “From a sporting point of view, I’m a golf addict and what’s happened in golf, as a fan, has been very unsatisfactory,” he explains. “It’s really diluted the product. I want to see the best players playing against each other. And for the vast majority of the time, they don’t.”

Telegraph Sport disclosed in January how the Public Investment Fund was homing in on a remarkable branding deal for Queen’s and Eastbourne before the Lawn Tennis Association dismissed the offer. Since then, however, the WTA Finals have been secured by Riyadh. Henman is watching closely. “The Saudis are not coming to tennis, they’re in tennis. Hopefully, as a sport, we can all work together, and whether that’s the grand slams or the ATP and the WTA, to make sure that we have a better solution than golf because it hasn’t worked at all.”

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