Tim Henman knows Andy Murray won’t worry over critics

p67 murray - edition 22/6

22 June 2012

Tim Henman believes Andy Murray will ignore the critics who have already written off his hopes of a maiden Grand Slam before a ball has been struck in anger at Wimbledon.

Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, once fierce rivals on opposite sides of the net, have doubled up to dismiss Britain’s fourth seed as a credible challenger to defending champion Novak Djokovic, last summer’s beaten finalist Rafael Nadal, and six-time Wimbledon winner Roger Federer.

Evert claims the men’s game is now dominated by a “triangle” embracing Djokovic, Nadal and Federer. Meanwhile, Navratilova says of Murray’s quest for a Grand Slam: “I just do not know if it can happen now because Nadal and Djokovic are just playing better.”

Henman, the former British No1 who reached four Wimbledon semi-finals, has heard the doubters and said: “Trust me, Andy wants it to happen more than anyone and he’s doing all the right things as far as I’m concerned. Definitely, I think he has a chance.”

The whispers will have reached the ears of Murray, too, but Henman insisted the 25-year-old Scot will be deaf to any negativity. He said: “If Andy is concerned about what others are thinking, he has no chance. But he isn’t concerned.

“Everyone else can talk about him until they’re blue in the face. But that’s where Andy has to do a good job of controlling the things he can control. And that’s what he’s doing. Is he not working hard enough? Is he not training hard enough? Of course he is. Andy is not leaving any stone unturned.

“If you give 100 per cent, which he is, you can’t give any more. Andy is doing his best.”

However, Henman is realistic when assessing the size of the task confronting the world No4 at Wimbledon, which begins on Monday.

Indeed, he agrees with Evert that Djokovic, Nadal and Federer are extraordinary players.

Henman, 37, said: “At the moment Andy is probably playing against three of the top eight players in the history of the game. But give Nadal and Djokovic another three years and, along with Federer, you might be talking about the three best players of all time. This is the generation Andy is up against.

“I think there is a top three but I don’t think it’s a case of them ‘and the rest’. Andy has definitely separated himself from the others below him in the rankings. Just look at his record: five Grand Slam semi-finals in a row and last year making four semis. There are only six players in history who have done that in one year.”

But what about Wimbledon this year? Henman pondered and then replied: “The reality is that Andy will probably have to beat two of the top three. He has beaten them all in the past but can he do it in a Grand Slam? Can he produce those special performances? Might at least one of them have to play not quite so well? All of those things do need to fall into place.”

As does one final piece of the jigsaw — Murray’s health. Last month severe muscle spasms almost caused his mid-match retirement from the French Open before he recovered to beat second-round rival Jarkko Nieminen, of Finland, over four punishing sets.

Henman said: “Because the challenge is so great, the short-term priority is Andy being 100 per cent healthy. If he is up to 95 per cent healthy then he’ll still be behind the eight ball and it will be almost impossible for him.”

Tim Henman is an ambassador for HSBC, official banking partner to the Wimbledon Championships. For details go to wimbledon.com/hsbc

Tim Henman knows Andy Murray won’t worry over critics

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