Great Britain Davis Cup Team

Tim Henman

Although he is set to retire after Great Britain take on Croatia at the World Group play-offs in September 2007, Tim Henman is worth a mention, as he has been the top performing tennis star for Britain in the past 30 years, and an ardent Great Britain Davis Cup team member.

‘Tiger Tim’ made history when he became the first player from the UK to reach the semifinals of Wimbledon since the 1970s. Formerly ranked no.4 in the world, Tim has reached 6 Grand Slam semifinals, but has never managed to claim a title.

The 33-year-old has, in the past, caused quite a stir with the normally reticent British public. He became the new icon of British sport and has affectionately been given names such as ‘Tin Man’, ‘Timbo’ and ‘Hen Head’ from his adoring fans. The word ‘henmania’ was coined in an effort to describe the intensity of public support the young man enjoyed.

Plagued by injury and poor form, Tim made the decision to retire from professional tennis. “I want to put in a good performance and I want to leave with this team back in the World Group”, he said of his final competitive tennis outing.

Andy Murray

Andy Murray is the highest-ranked British player and is currently ranked no.19 in the ATP World rankings.

He has, in effect, taken over the reigns from Tim Henman, becoming the incumbent number one in the hearts and minds of the British sporting public. In fact, as early as 2005, when he reached the third round at Wimbledon, the crowds re-christened Henman Hill, Murray Mound. His defeat to David Nalbandian didn’t seem to dampen the crowd’s spirits and ‘henmania’ was quickly replaced by ‘Andymonium’.

As a Great Britain Davis Cup Team player, he has done relatively well, helping his team to remain in Group 1 of the Europe/Africa Zone in 2006. He is part of the team who will play Croatia in the World Group play-offs in September 2007.

Murray, only 20 years old, has already raked in prize money of US$1 450 836 in his short professional career. He has made it to the fourth round of the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open and to the first round of the French Open in his first two years of professional tennis. The youngster has, undoubtedly, got an enormous amount of potential.

In 2006 he was one of only two players to have beaten Swiss legend, Roger Federer, the other being World no.2 Rafael Nadal. Will we see a Scot as World no.1 for the very first time?

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