Tim Henman, the former world number four, has spoken about Emma Raducanu's decision to rehire Andrew Richardson as her coach, the struggles of British tennis star Jack Draper, and his own role as vice-captain for Team Europe at the upcoming Laver Cup. In an interview at Queen's Club, Henman reflected on his own career and the current state of tennis.
Henman on Raducanu and Richardson
Henman, who shared a room with Richardson in Earl's Court during their early careers, expressed surprise when Raducanu parted ways with Richardson just two weeks after winning the US Open in 2021. 'I was surprised she chose not to work with him,' Henman said. 'She's worked with a lot of coaches since then, and now I really hope that her decision to get back with Andrew works for both their sakes.' Henman noted that Richardson was best man at his wedding and that he has known Raducanu since her early teens. He believes Richardson understands the game well and can help Raducanu build consistency and durability.
Raducanu's US Open Victory and Development
Henman was courtside during Raducanu's remarkable US Open run, where she became the first qualifier to win a grand slam. He acknowledged that the victory was so unexpected that it may have hindered her development. 'She didn't really have a foundation to build from,' he said. 'All of a sudden she was playing top-level events, and she wasn't ready physically and mentally.' However, Henman stressed that he would not trade the achievement. 'It's one of the most incredible achievements in sport.' He cautioned that winning another slam would be very hard but added that if she has done it once, she can do it again, provided she focuses on the process.
Jack Draper's Injury Woes
Henman expressed concern for Jack Draper, the talented British player who has struggled with injuries. Draper, who reached world number four 15 months ago, has missed most of the past year and pulled out of Queen's. 'He's had such a rotten time,' Henman said. 'He was playing great tennis, but if you're not healthy, you can't compete.' Henman advised patience as Draper deals with bone bruising and knee issues.
Critique of the Tennis Calendar
Henman criticized the brutal tennis calendar, which has led to injuries for top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz missed the French Open and Wimbledon, while Sinner crashed out of the French Open after a long winning streak. 'The schedule needs looking at,' Henman said. 'Less is more. I would definitely streamline it.' He suggested shortening Masters 1000 events to eight or nine days and building in periods without top-level tennis to build expectation.
Governance and Prize Money
Henman, a Wimbledon board member, highlighted the need for better communication among tennis's seven governing bodies. He noted the recent breakthrough in prize money negotiations, with Wimbledon announcing a 20% increase. 'The communication needs to be better,' he said. He praised the grand slams for leading the way in equal prize money and supporting lower-ranked players.
Laver Cup Vice-Captaincy
Henman is enthusiastic about his role as vice-captain for Team Europe at the Laver Cup, which will be held at the O2 in London in September. He described the competition as having the potential to become as powerful as the Ryder Cup in golf. 'I absolutely love it,' he said. 'When I was at the 2022 Laver Cup, when Roger Federer played his final match, I was blown away by the intensity and passion.' He confirmed that Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev have signed up, and negotiations are ongoing with Jannik Sinner. Henman hopes to win after Team Europe lost in San Francisco last year.
Reflecting on his own career, Henman recalled starting with just seven ranking points and a world ranking of 780. 'If you'd said to me then I could be top 100 for 10 years, I would have bitten both arms off,' he said.
