He may be one of Britain’s most famous tennis players, but Tim Henman admits that family will always be his biggest achievement as he looks forward to celebrating his silver wedding anniversary with his wife, Lucy, later this year.
Tim, who will turn 50 in September, says that while he is incredibly proud of the many tennis tournaments he won during his stellar career, Lucy and his three daughters, Rose, 21, Olivia, 19, and Grace, 16, will always come first.
“My family is way more important,” he confides in an exclusive interview on the eve of The Championships at Wimbledon. “I am lucky to have such a great and happy family. It’s crazy to think my eldest is 21 now and away at university. It goes so quickly, but I feel very lucky that I get to spend so much time with them.
“Lucy and I will have been married 25 years this year and that is very special. Long may it continue!”
Tim has no qualms about his approaching 50th birthday, saying, “It’s only a number, after all! I feel comfortable with it. Mind you, when I was 22 and I saw someone who was 50, I used to think that was old and now it is me! But it is all good. I will be in New York for the US Open, so hopefully I can celebrate it there.”
Once again, Tim will be part of this year’s BBC broadcasting team for the corporation’s coverage of Wimbledon and will join tennis legends he used to idolise, such as John McEnroe, in the commentating box, alongside host Clare Balding.
He laughs as he recalls being a commentator at the tournament for the first time in 2008, a year after he had retired. “It was Federer v Nadal in the final,” he says. “It was, in my opinion, the greatest men’s final and I remember thinking to myself, ‘Don’t say something stupid! This is the best match ever. You don’t want to ruin it!’”
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A CITY OF TWO HALVES
There's a holiday for every budget to be found in Dubai, as OK!'s Faith Richardson discovered
'Christmas is a double whammy'
Chef James Martin on the pressures of dividing his time between his restaurants and his family over the festivities
LEARN HOW TO PLEASE YOURSELF
The festive season can be an incredibly stressful time, particularly for people-pleasers who struggle to put their own needs first
'There's a bit of faking it until you make it'
Actor Paul Mescal on entering the Gladiator II arena, building a blockbuster body for his role as fighter Lucius Verus, and heading up an A-list cast of Hollywood's finest stars
THE A-LIST HAIL HOLLYWOOD'S BIG HITTERS
A line-up of the film world's best-known faces attended this year's Governors Awards to celebrate lifetime achievements
'I think we arrived right on time'
The stars of the long-awaited film Wicked, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, tell us why its themes are so relevant right now and why the musical is so dear to their hearts
'No one knows who I am'
Having first found fame on social media, GK Barry has become the breakout star of this year's I'm A Celebrity
'I still pinch myself about how we met'
Now legally married, MAFS Uk’s Adam and Tayah Aveling are looking forward to Christmas with their daughter and welcoming baby number two in 2025
THE ROYAL WEEK
It was a sad week for Queen Camilla, but a good week for the royal family’s charities with visits to hospitals and homeless centres
WILLIAM AND KATE'S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS
After a challenging year for the royal family, the Prince and Princess of Wales plan to give their children an unforgettable time filled with fun and festivities
