Post anything here from pics, to interviews, articles and quotes so we can remember our hero, Timmy :bow:

to start with , heres the press conference we were all dreading

Tims Goodbye

perhaps we could have a cheerier title liam? he's not dead!!!!!!

How about the Official Henman-worshipping thread????? or the official Henman will always be number 1 to me thread????? :P

you see, you go and change it and make me look like an idiot now :cry: :P

:P

stop moaning at me and post something nice :chainsaw: roflmao

Henman Hill, and it will stay Henman Hill as far as im concerned

something that doesn't include a :chainsaw: ????


Stealing this from the ATP website:

SINGLES CAREER TITLES (11): 1997--Sydney Outdoor, Tashkent; 1998--Basel, Tashkent; 2000--Brighton, Vienna; 2001--Basel, Copenhagen; 2002--Adelaide; 2003--Paris TMS, Washington FINALIST (17): 1997--Antwerp, Doha; 1998--Los Angeles, Sydney Outdoor; 1999--Basel, Doha, London / Queen's Club, Rotterdam; 2000--Cincinnati, Rotterdam, Scottsdale; 2001--London / Queen's Club; 2002--Indian Wells TMS, London / Queen's Club, Rotterdam; 2004--Indian Wells AMS; 2006--Tokyo

DOUBLES CAREER TITLES (4): 2004--Monte Carlo AMS; 1999--Monte Carlo, London; 1997--Basel FINALIST (2): 2000--Rotterdam; 1996--Atlanta Olympics

From his website:

Tim announces his retirement

23/8/07 10:56 AM


Following the speculation in the British media at the beginning of the week I can confirm that I will retire from professional tennis after the Davis Cup tie against Croatia at Wimbledon at the end of September.

This certainly isn’t a decision I have taken lightly and is something I have been thinking about for a long time. While I still enjoy competing it has become clear that my ability to do so has been severely compromised by my fitness – I have recently found it impossible to withstand the rigours of playing tennis at the highest level.

In addition, my wife Lucy and I are expecting our third child shortly and it has also become increasingly difficult for me to spend as much time as I need to away from home on the tour. I’m really looking forward to being able to spend a lot more time with my family in an effort to help re-pay all of their loyal and loving support throughout my career.

Representing my country and playing at Wimbledon have always had a very special place in my heart and over the years many of my fondest memories have come from the Davis Cup ties I have taken part in as well as playing at the Championships. I feel honoured and privileged to be able to represent my country once more against Croatia at Wimbledon and hopefully I will be able to finish on a high by helping Great Britain return to the World Group in 2008.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all my fans for their incredible support not only on home soil but also around the world. I’ve always found it amazing that wherever I’ve found myself on court I’ve always been able to find at least one British flag in the crowd and, regardless of the score, the support I’ve enjoyed has always been unwavering.

I also want to thank my sponsors for their support along with everybody else who has helped me focus on trying to fulfil my potential. Tennis is an individual sport but there are so many people that have given so much more than they needed to in an effort to help me, and for that I am eternally grateful.

I would also like to thank my trainer Johan De Beer and my coach Paul Annacone. Apart from their unstinting support day-in, day-out they have been great friends and hopefully will remain so for many years to come.

Finally, I still have a lot to achieve on court before I retire, starting with the US Open on Monday. I have some great memories of playing here in New York over the years and want to add to those over the next couple of weeks.

After the Open I’ll then be concentrating my professional efforts on preparing for our crucial Davis Cup tie against Croatia at the end of September, and privately on supporting Lucy in the final weeks of her pregnancy.

All I ask over the next few weeks are that I am allowed to do just that and hopefully I will be able to enjoy the final few weeks of my professional career and achieve the goals that I have set myself between now and then.

Best wishes

:unsure: would be nice to have a picture of Henman on the screen.. that looks like Andy Murray!

yes, but it looks like the crowd a cheering a Murray error, hence cementing Tims place on Henman Hill and in our hearts :)

(sorry Murray fans, i do like him and will be supporting him once Tim goes :))

And heres my Avatar for the last time


By liam_valid

Anyway I can upload my own pics of Tim onto here?

yep, use the imageshack website

http://imageshack.us/

upload your images on to there and then paste the link in to here......

Thanks DJ, can't seem to get the website up at the mo but will keep trying.

I will be making 'Henman Hil Forever' tshirts for Wimbledon next year!

Here are some pics I took of Henman on the screen of his hill!

you'll make a fortune if you sell 'em to CC members!!!

nice pics btw! :ok:

thats what I'm talking about - Henman on the screen on Henman hill! :clap:

Henman on the beeb NOW!

bye timmy, it'll be weird not having you around, but all the best in your life outside tennis :cryracquet:. now let's kill those croats!!!!!! :devil:

I'm glad I don't read 606, I just clicked on link from the Henman story and it took me there and all the trolls are out talking about Henman...
never any good, lived in Rusedski's shadow.. :blink:

i did the same - it made me want to throw things at my computer, so i shut it down before i did serious damage......i really can't afford a new computer :wacko:

Henman worshipping: :bow:

i honestly think that Tim did everyone proud. Not only that but he's increased interest in tennis - and i'm sure over the coming years we'll find youngsters coming through the ranks who admit to being inspired by Tim. I must admit to getting in to tennis through watching Tim at Wimbledon, but i went back and checked some stats on the ATP site - and i truly didn't realise quite how successful he had been over the years. I really hope that the people who have bitched about him for so long, look back in a few years time and realise how difficult it is to get to number 4 in the world, and to stay in the top 10 for as long as Henman did. The man truly deserves some worshipping :bow: :bow: :bow:

What was the original thread title out of interest?
One of my fondest memories of Tim was against Kafelnikov at Wimbledon in the 1st round, I believe it was 1996. It was a thriller of a match and went to 5 sets, Tim winning through after much nailbiting. I remember hiding behind the settee and cushions a lot! I think this was pretty much the start of the rollercoaster.
Gutted to see him go and really sad that the injury has dictated the end. He never did receieve the credit he deserved, only from his true fans. Tears will flow at Davis Cup! Thanks for the memories Tim :bow:

Congratulations to Tim Henman for such a wonderful career and putting so much effort into British Tennis. I for one will always be thankful for that. He renewed hopes of a British Champion and while he never won Wimbledon, his performances there have always been fantastic.

I'd like to remember the Henman V Ivanesvic match in 2001. If only it wasn't for that blasted rain! I love Goran and think he made one of the best Wimbledon champions but I'd dearly have loved Henman to have got to the final and won.

I doubt Henman would have beaten Rafter in the final-Rafter had already won two slams and been in three previous at that stage, and he played superbly against Goran. Unfashionable though it is to say it Henman did not have what it took to get to a slam final let alone win one.
Henman had enough talent to get himself into a winning position in big matches, but wasn't mentally tough enough to win them. The number of times he could have won matches that he didn't are painfully etched into my psyche.
I'll miss all the nail biting-the tough thing for us fans was clinging to the hope!

the last significant male serve volley player-gone.

Worshipping thread BT ;)

I think he could have beaten Rafter though, he won their only meeting on grass (1998), and served and volleyed better...on grass.

This is the end of the best era British men's tennis has had since the 1930's!

A sad day :(

In retrospect Tim had a great last Wimbledon with some audacious tennis there. He provides more entertainment in two matches of tennis, than many players do in their entire lives. Look at it that way. :)

Tim will be missed from Wimbledon as much as Federer will be when he goes, it really won't be the same.

I'll always remember watching those epic battles with Sampras, Hewitt and Ivanisevic, and coming home from school to see Tim struggling in the evening in the early rounds and pulling through, hope against hope. oh crap Im really depressed now. :(

Henman had a great serve volley, that's not in debate, but he beat Rafter when Rafter was less accomplished on grass.
However Rafter leads 3-2 in the head to head, and reached two wimbledon finals after they played-that's 2 more wimbledon finals than Henman, and Rafter won two slam finals-that's two more than Hemnan-mulitply Henman's slam tally by infinity and you still have zero.
Henman played 6 grand slam semis and never won any, do you really think the pressure of a Wimbledon final would have alleviated his nerves?
Of course one can assert with blind faith 'yes', but the relentless blind faith and optimism of all his fans (including myself) cannot change the reality we all know deep down.
I've seen the vast majority of his matches through the years-he's a nice guy, who plays watchable tennis.
I just don't share predilection for kidding myself.

:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:
there we go, can i get off my knees now?

roflmao roflmao

Yes, you acheived the necessary smiley quota :lol:

Well Im not a massive fan, just someone who's always enjoyed following him at Wimbly. So I would like to think Im a little bit objective about him.

I won't pretend to know what would happen, it's all conjecture, however, his game didn't match up badly against Rafter's and I still think he would have stood a chance :) Who can say what his nerves would have been like in a Wimbledon Final, as you say he never got to a grand slam final, the atmosphere in a Grand Slam Final, especially in your own country is quite unique. So we'll never know how he would have fared really. He could have been a bag of nerves or he could've played the match of his life...like he *nearly" did in the semis. The momentum of beating Goran would've ensured him a swining final though I bet :D

Plus Goran was prone to mental frailty and Rafter was the superior Grand Slam specimen, and look who won......

WE LOVE YOU TIMMY, WE DO.... WE LOVE YOU TIMMY, WE DO....

so now that we're officially heartbroken may i just say that i grieve for you tim. i know you didn't want to go out like this. limping from loss to loss. but you should know 3 things:

1) you had the most exciting matches

2) you played the most beatiful tennis

3) you were a model professional and a gentleman.

for those 3 reasons and many more: here's to you SIR tim henman.

my idol always.

of course it's conjecture, that's the nature of the beast, and conjecture about Tim winning wimbledon if it not for a rain delay is what i was initially challenging.
Beware accusations of 'mental frailty' regarding Goran, he had won two masters series events, and been in three wimbledon finals before he reached the final against Pat, Tim had achieved non of these feats before reaching any of his slam semis, so if Goran was weak his comparison with Tim hardly looks favourable.
I'm not suggesting that Goran was a mental God, but he could just about keep titans at bay. Goran had been outplayed in five sets by Agassi and Sampras in two Wimbledon finals-that kind of mental frailty might have been welcomed by fans of Tim (who do really, really like btw. :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:
a bit more Henman worship to make the point.

I think you all know how much I like and support Tim, He is the sole reason I ever first starting watching and getting interested in tennis. I would go as far to say that if I didn't have the pleasure of being hooked on watching Tim in the 2002 Wimbledon Championships I probably wouldn't be a big tennis fan like I am now. He was the one who got me into tennis and ever since I have loved tennis a lot and now I am even playing it a lot too.

Henman hill forever! :bow:

I'll second that Flame!

I have one last word for all those who called him a loser and said he was a typical british guy who never won anything...

Paris masters series 2003 he beat Grosjean, Kuerten, Federer, Roddick and Pavel to lift the trophey. He played world class tennis to win that tournament and that is Tim Henman at his best, I don't care what anyone says, Tim Henman at his best could beat anyone and I mean anyone.

Sorry to piss on the party but as a MASSIVE and DEVOTED fan who has spent many an hour defending Tim I am feeling cheated by the sudden announcement which gives hsi true fans little time to see him now. And thr nation who have held him up for years no time to view him on TV. :angry: Tim for al our investment and ridicule we received, we deserved better. I'm really not amused , neither is my partner, his sister, his mother, my mother, my dad, his mate, my bessie mnate etc etc.

Hate to say it but remember at Wimby when I said that was Henman's last match? Well no one bleived me, and it really so was, and I think he knew that but may have lied to us. And if so I think he owed us more. I'm annoyed really. And even though I watched his press conference over it was not fitting and pathetic and empty really. Sorry but Tim you could surely have done better for us? Seriously pissed off and wondering why I bothered in ways as are half my mates! :angry:

Oh and just as a refelction of what is being said to me now in my front room - sorry Tim, we are disgusted and let down. Not cos you retired but the way you did it. :nope: :nope: :nope: :nope: :nope: :nope:

Hey SB, maybe 'disgusted' is too strong a word? Personally, I think Tim was really hoping to get one more Wimbledon but like he said, when he got to the hardcourts he had a firm reminder that his back isn't what it was.

I know his fans won't get many chances to say goodbye, but what better way is there to bow out than representing your country for DC at a sell out no. 1 court at Wimbledon which is televised by the beeb? The only thing better would be playing Wimbledon but there's no point stumbling along for that if you're heart (and back!) won't be in it.

I'm with MissS on this one. I think that Tim honestly did want to come and play another Wimbledon, but he must be looking at it and wondering if it's worth risking serious permanent injury to come and play 1 or maybe 2 matches at Wimby next year (if we're being honest about things, he's not going to get much further.)

Bearing in mind that he's dropping down the rankings (I think he'll drop out of the top 100 soon) so will stop gaining direct entry to tournaments. Do we really want to watch Tim struggle through the qualifiers of tournies (which won't be televised anyway)? Would we not prefer to watch him bow out playing for his country at Wimbledon?

I suppose we were kind of hoping he would play 1 more Queens and Wimbledon - where he would obviously get wild cards - but like he said, does he really want to continue training and travelling round the world competing just so he can play one more Wimbledon. I think he probably thought after this year's Wimby that he would return, but like he said in the press conference - the hard court season has made him realise that he can't keep playing through the pain. :(

It is a shame for hardcore fans who may not get to see him once more (although the DC is of course televised) - but Tim has given us 15 years, and has played both Queens and Wimbledon every year since 1994. Personally, I think if he thinks it's the right time to go - then fair play to him for making what must be a tough decision!

My turn :)

You all know how I feel about Tim. When I arrived on the bbc message board many moons ago it was straight to battle with the Henman bashers, some of whom I won over, some of whom could go to hell ;) But the reason for doing it all is that I always felt Tim Henman was a player who made matches exciting, played with flair and brilliance and may have been the first Englishman in a long time to lift the Wimbledon trophy.

When I first started getting into tennis, I confess I didnt know much about it outside of Wimbledon - I didnt have the internet to broaden my horizons then! - but I knew that watching tennis was something that made my blood quicken and caused me to roar at the tv! Nobody else I knew really got it - but the skill involved has never ceased to amaze me and then Henman stumbled into view....

No matter what you may say, that man can play tennis! His ultimate ranking of number four in the world - no basher can grab the magnitude of this! We are talking about him dropping out of the top 100 now and yet he was up there at number four! :bow: His skill at the net has been applauded by many who have a more expert eye than I and its always been the net game that I have admired the most. Watching him evolve and try to play the game as the courts changed and moved away from his game was hard to watch and yet, how can you not admire a man who always, ALWAYS gave it 100% and even suceeded for a short time?

He played some great players - and even beat them on occasion! He played with elegance, and despite what the bashers may have said, he also played with heart and with humour. I have always found Tim to have a sense of humour on and off court and nothing more than the 'boring' tag has annoyed me more. He has tried to conduct himself with dignity through all the Wimbledon Henmania and shrugged off disappointment and the press baying for his blood and given it his all.

I may never see him now, and I too am disappointed by the sudden arrival of his retirement, but I understand why it has come. This man deserves to try and go out on a slight high, infront of a crowd who will lift and give him the cheer he rightly deserves and in time to spend with his family at a crucial time. He is clearly suffering with his injuries once more and we all remember how he didnt start this year for ages due to the pain - for all we know, he could have been advised to not put his body through that all again for one more match at Wimbledon and so, with sadness, I accept his decision and wish him well in all he goes on to do.

Tennis for me will lose some sparkle and that huge rush I used to get when he won, but I thank him for giving me that for many years. For me, he simply was, the best.

:)