Henman snubs Team Murray role
Henman is happy to enjoy retirement for the moment
Tuesday, 04, Dec 2007 11:40
Former British number one Tim Henman has revealed that a position on Andy Murray's backroom staff would not tempt him back to tennis.
Murray dispensed of the services of outspoken American coach Brad Gilbert earlier this year and is now seeking to assemble a group of experts to help him with all aspects of his game rather than have a single mentor.
Henman retired after helping Britain earn promotion to the Davis Cup World Group in September and revealed that a return to the rigours of the tour does not appeal.
"If you are going to do something like that, there is a lot of travel involved and that's something I'm enjoying not doing anymore," he said.
Murray's decision to dismiss Gilbert, who had been brought in to guide his progress at a large expense to the Lawn Tennis Association, was criticised in some quarters.
Although the relationship was visibly strained at times, Murray had developed well under Gilbert's tutelage and enjoyed a strong end to the season after recovering from a wrist injury that kept him out of Wimbledon.
However Henman insists that the 20-year-old Scot knows best about how to manage his bid to break into the upper reaches of the sport's elite.
"That's the nature of the beast. These things happen in an individual sport when you are working so closely in an environment," Henman said.
"Andy's made a decision that he wants to go in a different direction, and, as your own boss, that's your prerogative.