British · Oxford, England · Born 6 September 1974Tim Henman is a British former tennis player who reached four Wimbledon semifinals and a career-high ranking of World No. 4, becoming the face of British tennis for a decade before Andy Murray.
The last British man to reach the Wimbledon semifinals for a generation, Tim Henman made four appearances in the last four at the All England Club between 1998 and 2002, carrying a national expectation that no player of his era in any sport carried quite so visibly. He began playing tennis at two and a half, turned professional in 1993, and broke into the world's top 100 by 1995. A classic serve-and-volley player in an era when the style was fading from the game, Henman became British No. 1 in 1996 and again from 1999 to 2005. He reached the Wimbledon semifinals four times (1998, 1999, 2001, 2002), becoming the first British man to do so since Roger Taylor in the 1970s, and came agonisingly close to the final in 2001, leading Goran Ivanišević two sets to one in a rain-interrupted epic before losing in five. His popularity led fans to nickname the grassy viewing mound by Court 1 'Henman Hill.' Henman reached a career-high ranking of World No. 4 in July 2002 and added two further Grand Slam semifinals at the 2004 French Open and US Open, giving him six major semifinal appearances in total, though he never reached a final. He won 11 ATP singles titles, most notably the 2003 Paris Masters, and helped Great Britain's Davis Cup team for over a decade. He also won an Olympic silver medal in doubles at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Henman retired in 2007 and has since become a leading tennis broadcaster and commentator.
Reaching four Wimbledon semifinals and becoming the face of British tennis for a decade
How They Played
Classic serve-and-volley player with sharp net skills in an era dominated by baseline power
Lasting Impact
The most successful British male tennis player of the pre-Murray era, whose Wimbledon runs captivated the nation and gave rise to 'Henman Hill'
Career Honours
- Career-high ranking of World No. 4
- 6x Grand Slam semifinalist
- 11x ATP singles titles, including 2003 Paris Masters
- Olympic silver medal, doubles (1996)
- First British man to reach Wimbledon semifinal since Roger Taylor in the 1970s
British Athletes