Game, set and match as Henman calls time

The 32-year-old said injury problems and the impending birth of his third child were behind the decision.

He will compete in the U.S. Open and next month's Davis Cup tie against Croatia at Wimbledon before ending his 13-year career.

"I am looking forward to stepping away from things," he said yesterday. "It is a new beginning and I'd like to feel there's going to be a lot of new opportunities."

Henman said he had hoped to play at Wimbledon next year but his back problems would not allow it. In his attempts to be the first Briton to win the men's title since Fred Perry in 1936, he reached the semi-finals four times.

"Am I disappointed I didn't win it? Yes, I am," he said. "But when I reflect on my career, I was always able to maximise my potential. This was as good as I could have been."

It is generally believed that rain robbed Henman of a Wimbledon final in 2001. He was ahead against Goran Ivanisevic and playing dazzling tennis when the heavens opened.

Play spanned three days before the Croatian clinched victory and later the title. "If I could change circumstances, against Goran I would ask it not to rain," said Henman.

His appearances at Wimbledon drew a massive following and fans denied centre-court tickets would gather on "Henman Hill" to watch their hero, "Tiger Tim".

Henman won a silver medal in the doubles at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. He won four other doubles titles and 11 singles events, earning £6million in prize money.

In 2002, he was ranked fourth in the world, his highest career position.

Commentator Mark Petchey said: "The reality is he salvaged British tennis for well over a decade and made Wimbledon exciting as we all believed he had a good shot at winning it."

Lucy, Henman's wife of eight years, is expecting a child next month. The Oxfordshire-based couple have two daughters Rosie, four, and Olivia, three.