Former British number one Tim Henman set for India to launch new tennis initiative

By Gary Anderson

January 2 - Former British men's tennis number one Tim Henman is to spearhead a new initiative aimed at boosting the development of junior tennis in India by attending coaching clinics in Delhi and Mumbai as part of a campaign organised by The Wimbledon Foundation and HSBC.

Henman, who won 11 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour singles titles before retiring in 2007, will visit both Indian cities from January 6 to 14 to launch "The Road to Wimbledon in India" campaign which will provide local youngsters aged 14 and under with a chance of playing in the UK HSBC National Finals on Wimbledon's famous grass courts in August.

India holds special significance for the four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist as it is where he made his breakthrough in the professional game in 1994, winning three successive tournaments on the Indian satellite circuit.

"India has a special place in my heart - 2014 marks twenty years since I made my breakthrough on the Indian satellite circuit, winning eighteen successive singles matches," said 39-year-old Henman.

"This is pretty much where it started for me and thanks to The Wimbledon Foundation and HSBC this could be the start for a whole generation of Indian children.

"The activity in January is just the beginning of 'The Road to Wimbledon in India' and I can't wait to see how we can help develop tennis in India over the coming years."

Henman will be joined by All England Club head coach Dan Bloxham and both will attend coaching clinics that will be running alongside two national singles events for children aged 14 and under, with the RK Khanna Tennis Centre in Delhi and Mumbai's MSLTA Tennis Centre staging the tournaments.

The top 16 boys and girls from these two events will be invited to the Wimbledon Foundation Junior Masters in Delhi in April with the two boys and two girls finalists invited to compete in the UK HSBC National Finals in August.

Four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman will be in India looking to help youngsters follow in his footsteps and compete on the famous grass courts ©Getty Images

The Wimbledon Foundation - the community, charitable and development arm of the All England Club and The Championships - Wimbledon and HSBC claim that the new scheme is part of a long term plan to support the development of tennis in India.

"Launching The Road to Wimbledon in India is a major landmark for us and it's superb that both Tim and Dan are going to be so closely involved," Philip Brook, chairman of the All England Club, said.

"We look forward both to a long and successful partnership, and to welcoming the first finalists to the lawns of the All England Club at our UK National Finals next August."

Despite a population of over one billion, Indian players have struggled to make an impact at the very top of professional tennis, with eight-time Grand Slam doubles winner Leander Paes the only player to make any consistent impact at the major tournaments.

Leander Paes (left) is India's most successful player at major tournaments with eight Grand Slam doubles titles ©Getty Images

President of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) Anil Khanna has welcomed the new joined initiative and hopes that it will help ignite greater interest and develop more tennis talent throughout India.

"It is great news that Tim Henman and Dan Bloxham are coming over to Delhi and Mumbai with The Wimbledon Foundation and HSBC," said Khanna.

"Their visit is being coordinated between the AITA and Road to Wimbledon tournament director Paul Hutchins and it will be a really good boost for Indian juniors to have the opportunity to play and be coached by Tim and Dan over the six days they are in Delhi and Mumbai.

"It will also be a good opportunity for the AITA to discuss with The Wimbledon Foundation and HSBC some future ideas to assist junior tennis in India."

Launched in 2001, the HSBS Road to Wimbledon is the largest junior tennis event in the UK and sees around 20,000 children from across clubs and schools across England, Scotland and Wales taking part in a series of tournaments culminating in the annual UK HSBC National Finals.

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