Tim Henman

Tim Henman is a British former professional tennis player, most notably ranked World No. 4 in men's singles and considered one of the most successful British players of the Open Era.

A serve-and-volley specialist, he won 11 singles and four doubles titles on the ATP Tour and was the first British man to reach the Wimbledon singles semifinals since the 1970s.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Timothy Henry Henman was born on September 6, 1974, in Oxford, England, UK, as the youngest of three boys. He stands 185 cm tall and he plays right-handed with a one-handed backhand. He currently resides in Aston Tirrold, south Oxfordshire.

Henman’s tennis roots run deep in his family, with his father, mother, and great-grandfather all having played the sport at a high level. His maternal grandfather, Henry Billington, played at Wimbledon and represented Britain in the Davis Cup. As a child, Henman grew up with a grass tennis court in his family’s back garden and began playing before the age of three with a shortened squash racket.

After attending the Dragon School in Oxford, Henman received a scholarship for Reed's School in Surrey. He suffered from osteochondritis, a bone disease, as a junior, which sidelined him for two years. Henman married TV producer Lucy Heald in December 1999, and they have three daughters: Rose, Olivia, and Grace. Henman’s father, Anthony, passed away in May 2024. He is a supporter of the Oxford United football club.

Junior Career

During his junior career, Henman trained with the David Lloyd Tennis Centre and was later picked up by the Slater Squad at age 11.

Although he was not initially considered the most naturally skilled player in his group, he was recognized for his hard work and mental toughness. He was defeated early in the 1991 Australian Open junior class but found success in doubles, winning the Midland Bank Junior Championship.

In 1992, at the National Junior Championships, he defeated top-seed Mark Schofield in the semifinals before going on to win the title. At the age of 18, he transitioned into senior satellite tournaments.

Professional Career

Henman turned professional in 1993. A serve-and-volley player and a grass-court specialist, he was Great Britain's No. 1 player for much of his career. Henman reached six major semifinals, including four at the Wimbledon Championships between 1998 and 2002.

He was the first British man to reach that stage of the tournament since Roger Taylor in the 1970s.

Henman also achieved considerable success on hard courts early in his career, winning his first ATP Tour title in Sydney after a victory over Carlos Moya.

He later found success on clay, reaching the semifinals of the French Open in 2004. He won a total of 11 singles and four doubles titles on the ATP Tour, with his most significant win coming at the Paris Masters in 2003. Henman holds a 40–14 win-loss record with the Great Britain Davis Cup team. After his retirement in late 2007, he remained active on the ATP Champions Tour.

Career Record

Singles

• Career record: 496–274
• Career titles: 11
• Highest ranking: No. 4 (July 8, 2002)

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• Australian Open – 4R (2000, 2001, 2002)
• French Open – SF (2004)
• Wimbledon – SF (1998, 1999, 2001, 2002)
• US Open – SF (2004)

Other tournaments (Singles)

• Tour Finals – SF (1998)
• Grand Slam Cup – SF (1996)
• Olympic Games – 2R (1996)

Doubles

• Career record: 89–81
• Career titles: 4
• Highest ranking: No. 62 (February 21, 2000)

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – 1R (1996, 1997, 1998)
• French Open – 3R (1996)
• Wimbledon – 2R (1994)
• US Open – 2R (1996)

Team competitions

• Davis Cup – 40–14 (W–L)