Henman set to retire - report

LONDON: Tim Henman could be set to announce his retirement from tennis in the next few weeks, according to press reports on Monday.   

The Times reported that the 32-year-old, who reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon four times, had not entered any ATP tournaments after the three-day Davis Cup clash against Croatia starting on September 21.   

He has won just three tour matches this season and on Saturday pulled out of next week's ATP event in New Haven because of a recurring back injury.   

"It's frustrating because I haven't had that many problems with it all year; in the summer it was fine," Henman said at the time.   

"But playing on hard courts is a lot tougher on the body and my back hasn't reacted as well as I would've wanted.   

"My goal now is to try to get as much treatment on it as possible before the start of the US Open."   

The Times report said that Henman will attempt to play in the US Open in New York, starting on August 27, before bringing his professional career to a close with the Davis Cup tie at Wimbledon.   

The head of the British Lawn Tennis Association, Roger Draper, said he had not been informed of any retirement decision on Henman's part.   

"Jan Felgate, who's his agent, has basically said there's no official confirmation, but it's clear his career will end sooner rather than later," he told Radio Five Live.   

"Tim's his own man. He's always made his own decisions. He may fancy one more shot at Wimbledon next year and only time will tell."   

Henman's best ever world ranking was fourth in July 2002, but injury and loss of form have seen that crash to 92nd at present.