Henman Signs Up For Statoil Masters Tennis And Backs Murray’s French Open Decision

Tim Henman has signed up to compete in the Statoil Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall (4th-8th December) and backed Andy Murray’s decision to withdraw from the French Open next week.

Henman, who won the Statoil Masters title in 2011, believes Murray is doing the right thing in not risking the back injury that forced the World No.2 to retired from his match with Marcel Granollers in Rome last week.

“I think it’s a very good decision,” said Henman. “If you’re going into the French Open and looking to win the tournament, you have to be fully fit for best-of-5 set matches on clay. In terms of the physical toll that it takes on your body, it’s as great as any. There’s no point in Andy going in there and trying to win a round or two. If he was going to enter, he needed to be thinking he could win the tournament. If he’s not fit enough, it’s better to make the sensible decision and save himself for the grass court season.”

Henman admits he took couple of risks that he later regretted in his career, including playing a Davis Cup tie against Thailand in 2002. He was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open following shoulder surgery shortly afterwards. Henman thinks that ultimately it could give Murray a chance to profit at Wimbledon.

“It’s a mature, professional decision and it could potentially help him on the grass,” said Henman. “You don’t want to be missing events like these – the French Open is a huge event – and Andy will be bitterly disappointed, but if he can come back fresh and recharged, it may help him. As things stand, I think Rafa is very much the favourite for the French Open. He’s still the king of clay, and what he has done is incredible since he returned from injury. At Wimbledon, I could very easily make a case for all of the Top 4 players in the world, particularly if Andy can arrive fully fit.”

For his own part, Henman is already looking forward to returning to the famous Royal Albert Hall, and mixing it with some of the most well-known and popular tennis players in the world.

“There’s nowhere in the world quite like the Royal Albert Hall to play tennis, it’s a wonderful venue with a great atmosphere because we get fantastic crowds every year. I can’t wait to play there again,” said Henman.

Tickets to the Statoil Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall are now available, with prices from £12.50 per person - http://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/statoil-masters-tennis/default.aspx. Alternatively, the Box Office telephone number is +44 (0)20 7070 4404. For more information about the tournament, please go to http://www.statoilmasterstennis.com

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