Wow :o talk about a full on interview! FHM dont half ask harsh questions:


Tim Henman – he’s a nice guy but he lacks the bottle to go all the way and win tournaments. Fair comment?

It’s true that I don’t show a great deal of emotion – but to perform my best I need to be focused on what’s happening on the court. I don’t think there’s anyone more passionate or more determined to succeed than I am. If people think that’s not true then so be it – I’m not going to break racquets every time I lose because that’s what people want to see. I’m not a performing sea lion.

Have you ever thrown a tantrum after screwing up?

Yes, and I’m not particularly proud of it. In the US open two years ago, I lost in the fifth set to [Richard] Krajicek. It was a hell of a match and we didn’t finish till about one in the morning. I came into the locker room and I was in a destructive mode. I managed to break a mirror that was the size of a door and my locker and a few racquets. Then all of a sudden I saw the cleaners watching me and it was like, “What have I done?” I spent the next half hour picking up the glass and trying to fix the locker.

Rock’n’roll! Have you ever cried after losing?

Plenty of times. I think most of the kids in the juniors shed a few tears when they’ve lost.

No, I meant as an adult…

When I broke my leg. It was the realisation that I was going to be out for about five months.

Will you be able to live with yourself if you never win Wimbledon?

If I don’t, that’s no disgrace. There are plenty of people who haven’t won Wimbledon. It’s like being a footballer and saying, “I want to win the World Cup.” That’s the pinnacle and few achieve it, but I’ll be doing my best. I feel I’m getting close – and deep down I believe that one day I will win Wimbledon.

Does it piss you off when someone in the crowd screams, “Come on Tim!” just as you’re about to serve?

It can be a bit off-putting if they don’t choose the right moment but the support at Wimbledon is so good I’m sure it’s won me matches. It gives me such a lift, and it also puts enormous pressure on my opponent.

Compared with Nastase, Connors and McEnroe, why are today’s players so boring?

People say there are no characters now, but what about Bjorn Borg? They say he was phenomenal because he never showed emotion, but what’s Sampras? Sampras is probably the greatest player ever, but he’s piss-boring. How come Borg was amazing and Sampras is boring? McEnroe acted like a prick and everyone loved that. But now Leyton Hewitt is so, so pumped up – he’s one of the best competitors who ever played the game, but he’s a brash, spoilt brat.

So there are players who really get on your tits?

Some of the South Americans can be pretty obnoxious. [Marcelo] Rios rubs a lot of people up the wrong way, but the best way to deal with that is to beat him. It’s satisfying when you can shake his hand, look him in the eye and say, “Great match, well played, but I was better than you today.”

Unlike certain footballers, we never hear about you getting boozed up and thrown out of nightclubs. Do you ever go a bit mental?

It’s just a question of where you do it. I’m not the type of guy who likes to go out to the Met Bar or China White. If I’m throwing up at five in the morning then it’s going to be in my bathroom or on holiday where not too many people know who I am.

Tennis is full of young, fit, single men and women. Is there a load of copping off between players?

Yeah, course there is! There are parties at most tournaments – but you’re asking about it being between male and female players and we usually only play at the same sites during Grand Slams. We don’t coincide very often.

Okay, so how about among the female players?

There’s plenty of that on the women’s circuit. Rife is not quite the right word, but there are quite a few lesbians in tennis. I don’t think they’re trying to hide it. Some of them play doubles together – in more ways than one!

Have you ever walked in on some steamy lesbian loving in the locker room?

Er, no I haven’t, but I’m sure it’s gone on somewhere.

Do all the male players want to shag Anna Kournikova?

A few players have tried their luck, but I don’t know how successful they’ve been. And some of them think she should let her tennis do the talking. But good luck to her – she’s made a shitload of cash and she’s a good player. If you are in the top 10 in your profession, you must be doing something right.

Do you have a sex ban during tournaments?

I can’t say that I’ve got a strict regime. It’s like alcohol – if I’m playing in Australia and it’s 40°C outside, I’m not going to drink the night before because it dehydrates you, but if I’m playing indoors in Europe then I’ll have a few glasses of wine because it helps you relax.

So the Australian Open’s a bit of a barren time?

Er, yeah, alcohol-wise. Ha, ha.

You made the analogy, not me. Are you more likely to think about tennis during sex or sex during tennis?

I’m more likely to think about sex during tennis. That’s a crap question, isn’t it?

Cheers. How about this one – you, Agassi, Ivanisevic and Sampras are all kidnapped by terrorists. You’re going to have to spend years in captivity, but you get first pick of a cellmate. Who do you choose?

Well, I certainly wouldn’t choose Ivanisevic! He’s a good friend but he’s a loose cannon, so I wouldn’t want to be in a confined space with him. I think I’d choose Sampras because I know him as well as most people on the tour. And he’d probably be able to play his way out…

Is there a country where you really hate playing?

In the juniors I spent six weeks in South America and I wouldn’t go back in a hurry. And I’ve spent eight or ten weeks in India and we were in some dives, where people were shitting in the streets. It’s an eye-opener when you lose a match and see families washing in the street. You think, “Life isn’t so bad after all.”

Finally, do you actually like barley water?

Errrr… they’ve had an affiliation with Wimbledon since the Thirties, and I’m happy to work with them because they’ve got a good kids’ programme. But do I drink it on court? No, I don’t. fhm

:blink: surely Tim never swore in an interview like that? i'm sure he wouldnt open up as much as he did in some of those questions!!!

Found another interview! but this one is much nicer and this time they dont ask stupid questions :doh:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,52...84768_1,00.html

That first interview is incredible! Where's it from? And is it genuine? I kept thinking it was a spoof: 1) an interviewer wouldn't ask those kind of questions (perhaps I'm naive!), 2) Tim would never be so outspoken - in fact, I can see him refusing to answer half the questions.

As you say, the second interview much nicer - and quite a good analysis of the Brits with regard to their own tennis players. He really has had a rough ride - but it may be he same in other countries.

It would be very interesting to know how the Swiss press regard Federer. For a while, they were really on his back, especially when he lost first round in the French in 2003. But of course, since then, things have changed somewhat! I wonder if they are still giving him a hard time when he loses to Nadal say?

Scolios its from the FHM website, and basically FHM is one of those lads mags that often talks about explicit things like the questions Tim got asked! I know Tim swears and stuff but i cannot see how he would answer like that to them interview questions and they was pretty rude aswell, cant see Henman saying theres a lot of lesbians on the female tour :blink:

Heres the link http://www.fhm.com/site/interviews/interview.asp?GID=47

Thanks for the link, Andy. I'm still gobsmacked... As you say, can't see Tim going on about lesbians among female players. But they can hardly have made it up, can they? I mean, he could sue them.. Maybe they just twisted whatever it was he said and it came out like that :yikes: V interesting to compare it with the other interview, though, which to me is much more plausible.

I never was a big fan of Henman any way but if the stuff said in FHM is trus then my respect for him has gone down a whole lot further but as you guys say you have to wonder is that for real?!

I found it hillarious i must say, quite refreshing actually to hear Tim so unrestrained roflmao

The stuf about India I really wasnt amused by, Just hope it all not true and he didnt say it

Of course its true. Dont be so naive not to mention prudish. He did a very similar interview last year for the Times magazine. Yes they asked him frank questions. Yes he gave honest answers. Yes he had a sense of humour and yes he swore. What do people want? He is slated for being conservative and slated if he gives a frank interview. He just cannot win in some peoples eyes. What was so wrong with that interview? I have heard him say that he gets wasted from time to time in interviews before. He is human. But at least he loves his family , always shows good sportsmanship ,always gives 100% professionally doesnt stamp on other players testicles or mug old grannies. And the most refreshing of all in the Times interview last year he said he has given and is still giving everything he has got to try and win a Slam . But at the end of it all he has to say " I was probably never quite good enough"
I must admit it takes some balls to admit that. If anything he has gone up in my eyes not down

I thought it was quite funny actually. And its all true . You have to admit that.
I especially like the bit about the South American players. Thats true too as we all know.

And how do you know its true> Have you ever been to India Mrs Clever Clogs?? Im here to tell you Im half Indian and have been a couple of times and those statements are both ridciculous and also very offensive, so I wouldnt be proud as a fan about comments like that

It is unbelievable in this day and age that a sportsman would be so insulting to people-I know thay edit and trap people with comments but really this is what one would expect from something like Timmy-its is beyond belief-the ignorance!

Well of course its true. In many countries which are 3rd world there are poor areas. Its a fact. Not just poor by our standards but rock bottom poor. I think he was making a point that losing a Tennis match is nothing compared to how some people live. And you have a lot to be thankful for. And by choice who would want to spend time in those areas? no one.
But I have read a book about this and when they play challengers etc. the plaves they have to go to are pretty grim . Mostly they get food poisoning and fever.
Thats the point . but they have to suffer this if they want to achieve.

If thats all the case the rubbish you are talking why do many experet believe India and China willbe Super powers within the next 10-20 years that stuff doesnt happen over night you know and there is a reason why they say that

That might very well be the case. But I have read this book about a players experience when on the challenger tour and it makes grim reading. I think Tim Henman was just being honest. And anybody that says places like that do not exsist are kidding them selves

Doesnt answer my intial question tho you are simply grouping loads of countries toghter and pianting them with the same brush, India was the country he slated and you found funyn I asked what you know about it.. it seems clear however.. not alot!

Well I did find it funny and honest. Although I must say some of his comments are unlike him . So maybe it was coloured up a bit. No I have never been but you dont have to do you to know about countries these days.

Of course you need to see a place to know it other wise its just pure hear say and streo types Im afraid

My cousin lived in India for a while and he said he had such a wide spectrum of experience.The poverty he found very hard to deal with but wouldn't have missed being there for the world.The people and culture were so welcoming and exciting.

Poverty is funny????? :ban:

Henman is rubbish guy, you say this is what you would expect from someone like timmy but to be honest i think 90% of people expect Henman to be a posh non swearing bland guy :blink: I knew Henman was a nice guy and he had a sense of humour behind the professional ways he puts on for media interviews, I admit I didn't expect what i read in that FHM interview :unsure: I personally am not a fan of swearing anyway because i have Christian views but it doesen't change my support for Tim.

At the end of the day its rare you find anyone nowadays who doesen't swear anyway! unless they have religious views towards it and steer clear from doing it. But also you have to understand why Tim would talk like that in an interview which he is encouraged to open up and swear as much as he wants because we have seen the media give him so much stick and trouble for over 10 years that i'm not surprised he has that view towards them! But as it says in the second interview I posted

"As a nation, however, we have bullied him. New Britain resents something in Henman. You can welcome social change — the rise of the consumer, the loss of deferential culture — and at the same time regret the mean-spiritedness it has fostered. Henman is a great athlete. That we do not see him as such shows that we have lost some of our tolerance."

Couldn't agree more, I think thats the malice behind people who slate Henman, no compassion and lack of understanding for someone who is deliberatly putting on a bland personality to give the media less things to bring up and talk about with him! He learned that from an early age and ever since has known and been clever enough to know how the british media works, just a shame some people can't understand it.