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Henman ready for Davis Cup return

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LONDON, England -- Tim Henman has signaled he is ready to end his self-imposed exile from Britain's Davis Cup tennis team.

The 32-year-old former British number one is being courted by new Davis Cup coach Peter Lundgren and captain John Lloyd about turning out again next year in premier team competition.

"Having two years out, I really enjoyed having that break. Now I'm definitely starting to view it as something that has more appeal," he told the Guardian newspaper.

"I needed a break from Davis Cup and that was the reality," he added in an article published on Wednesday.

Henman, along with Greg Rusedski, shouldered Britain' Davis Cup hopes for years, but they struggled to maintain a slot in the elite 16-strong World Group.

He decided in September 2004 that it was time to concentrate fully on his own career and announced his retirement from the competition.

Since then though there has been the spectacular emergence on the scene of 19-year-old Andy Murray, who has made it clear he relishes playing in the Davis Cup.

Henman admitted that Murray's arrival has forced him to have a rethink.

"I've got a much more open mind," he said. "I always felt that if I was playing, then it was all or nothing.

"But I can sit here and say that maybe if I were to get involved then maybe I don't need to try and do it all.

"Certainly the way Andy has been playing, that's a big factor."

Lundgren, who previously coached Roger Federer and Marat Safin, was named to the coaching position earlier this month working alongside team captain John Lloyd after being headhunted by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

He has already helped prepare the British team for their recent win against Ukraine and will now take a hands-on role in the build-up to next April's crucial Euro/Africa Group One second-round match against the Netherlands.

Henman, who is playing in the ATP event in Basle this week, is currently enjoying a revival in fortunes having reached the final in Beijing earlier this month where he lost to Federer.

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