LIVE24SEVEN // Interview
access to opportunity. The UK tennis club structure is really important to providing that. It is in desperate need of more investment to allow it to keep improving and continue giving children the chance to play tennis. We need to make sure kids are active as the consequences and health benefits of that are enormous.”
As father to three daughters, many parents with such achievements as Tim’s would encourage their children to follow in their footsteps, yet not him: “I feel they have the wrong surname if they wanted to play tennis professionally in this country. There would be lots of pressure and expectation. For me, pushy parenting will always end in tears. It’s much better when the individual is motivated and has the desire to succeed from within. My daughters enjoy the game and play it at school but don’t have any aspirations to play anything more than socially.”
Tennis is a game overflowing with new blood, with the likes of Andy Murray taking the top spots. Tim has known Andy since he was a junior player on the circuit: “He’s been incredibly motivated and hardworking from a young age and having known him from then, it’s been incredible to watch him have the success that he’s had, especially in this era when he’s been competing against three of the best players of all time in Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. To have won double Olympic Golds and three Grand Slams is an amazing achievement. Hopefully, he’s still got a fair few years ahead of him.”
It’s one thing to make it to top-level tennis but sustaining it is a different story. Despite the notoriously short careers of professional sportsmen, Tim talks of a bright future for tennis newcomers: “Things are definitely changing, the players are playing longer these days. It’s been amazing to see the success that Federer has had coming back to the game aged 35, having had 6 months off. For me, it’s a scenario that the players should play as long as they can, so long as they’re enjoying it. They should keep playing because for me it’s the best job in the world.”
The futures bright for new talent coming through the ranks. But who are the ones to watch we ask? Tim says: “Kyle Edmunds has come a long way to be in the world’s top 50.”
Keeping an active sportsman occupied is no easy task. Following his retirement, Tim’s latest venture sees him turn his talents to travel: “When I stopped playing tennis and was going to have a much less structured diary, I was keen to learn how to ski – something I was never allowed to do while playing professionally due to the risk of injury. My wife and I were looking at buying a place overseas. We were thinking of a snow chalet, yet also liked the sunnier climates of the South of France and Italy too. A friend of mine introduced me to The Hideaways Club as he knew we had been looking at properties. We went to the South of France for one day and had joined within a week. For us, the concept of fractional ownership has been absolutely brilliant. We’ve been members for the last 8 years. I then became an ambassador and invested in the second fund. It’s been amazing to have the access to the whole portfolio of properties, without the responsibilities that goes with owning a second home.”
Tim continues to dip his toe into the tennis arena as he remains actively involved in the Wimbledon tournament board. Tim talks of his exciting ongoing projects: “I’m an ambassador for HSBC, Rolex and Jaguar and have maintained my relationships with Robinsons and Midlands Bank, who sponsored me when I was first starting out. I’m lucky they’re all part of the tennis family. Yet it still gives me lots of flexibility to enjoy family time and plan more holidays - bring it on, so more of the same please!”
As ambassador for The Hideaway Club, Tim welcomes discerning travellers to join as an exclusive member. Through collective ownership of high-end holiday residences, The Hideaway Club combines luxury property investment with a luxury lifestyle. More information can be found at:
www.thehideawaysclub.com
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