Summer Edition 2017

INTERVIEW
Tennis legend
Tim Henman talks
to School Notices
about his early years
on the circuit, how
he left school at 16
to pursue his dream
and his inspiring
journey to the top
How did you get into tennis?
My mum and dad played as well
as my two older brothers, so I
started playing with my family.
When did you know you wanted
a professional career in tennis?
My mum took me to
Wimbledon for the first time
when I was six and I saw Bjorn
Borg play. That was when I made
my one and only career decision.
Who inspired you?
Firstly, my dad. He played a
lot of different sports to a good
standard and is still the most
competitive man I know. Borg
and Stefan Edberg were my
tennis heroes.
When did you realise you had
serious talent?
I won my first tournament when
I was eight, which was a county
event. Then I won my regional
final but lost in the national final.
What was it like being a junior
on the circuit?
I really enjoyed playing junior
tournaments and had lots of
friends on the circuit.
As a junior, how did you
mentally prepare for matches?
I tried to think about my game
plan and the way I wanted to
play. It’s important to focus on
the process not the outcome.
How many hours of training did
you practise a day?
From the age of 11, I played
two hours of tennis and did 30
minutes of fitness training every
day, six days a week during term
time. In the school holidays, I
played even more. I left school at
16 to play full time tennis.
Did you have any superstitions
or follow any rituals before
getting on to the court?
For my first few years playing
at Wimbledon I always showered
in the same shower, but then they
redeveloped the changing rooms.
Can you share some strategies
for coping with the pressure
on court?
Pressure is all self-inflicted, so
remember to play one point at a
time and focus on the process.
How did you keep your cool
when umpire decisions didn’t
go your way?
I knew that getting frustrated
would not help my performance.
What advice do you have for
young players when it comes to
dealing with defeat?
You learn more from your
losses than your wins. Use it as
motivation to get better.
…and victory?
Enjoy the moment, but
“WHEN I WAS SIX AND I SAW
BJORN BORG PLAY. THAT WAS
WHEN I MADE MY ONE AND
ONLY CAREER DECISION”
SUMMER 17 ★ schoolnotices.co.uk 19