TENNIS:Tim Henman, the British number two, who is set to play America's Michael Russell in the Nottingham Open today, has suffered a torrid 2007 and yesterday fell to his lowest ranking for 11 years.
Last week's first-round defeat to 18-year-old wildcard Marin Cilic in the Artois Championships at Queen's and an equally abject performance at the French Open to Latvian Ernests Gulbis, has left the 32-year-old with just one ATP Tour win to his name all season.
His ranking has slumped to 78, leading to accusations the four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist's career best days are beyond him.
Two years ago Henman found himself ranked nine in the world - and he revealed the challenge of returning to such heights is one which drives him on.
He said: "It's a challenge. I think it puts in perspective the fact for such a long time I was in the top 10. For eight years or so I was inside the top 20. I think that puts in perspective how consistent I was and how well I managed my body and stayed injury free.
"Right now it is a difficult challenge but the bottom line is I love what I do. We have a short career so why on earth would I want to cut it even shorter? I want to maximise all the opportunities I have got and enjoy the challenges which lie ahead of me.
"I really think it is as simple as that. I want to be out there having fun and if I wasn't prepared to accept those challenges then I wouldn't do it But that isn't the case."
And although he admits a return to the world's top 10 could be beyond him, Henman insists he is still good enough to compete at the top level.
The defending champion, Richard Gasquet, celebrated his coming of age with a straight sets victory over Vince Spadea.
The Frenchman, who turned 21 yesterday, kept his bid for a third straight Nottingham title on track with a 6-3 6-4 win against the American. Dominik Hrbaty was the first seed to fall after slipping to a 6-3 6-4 defeat to former Wimbledon semi-finalist Sebastien Grosjean.
Jamie Murray strengthened his position as Britain's number one doubles player as he and partner Eric Butorac defeated British number two James Auckland and Stephen Huss 6-4-7-6 in the opening match of the tournament on Centre Court.
British number three Alex Bogdanovic, who ran Queen's champion Andy Roddick close last week, lost the opening set of his match with Guillermo Garcia-Lopez before the rain forced play to be abandoned for the day.
The Spaniard edge the first set 6-4 before the British number three served to take a 1-0 lead on serve in the second.
Bogdanovic will be the first on Centre Court at 11.30am this morning to resume his match, with Henman the next to follow in what promises to be a busy day for the four British players.
World number 189 Richard Bloomfield faces a daunting clash against Swedish veteran Jonas Bjorkman - a previous Nottingham winner - in the third match on Centre Court with qualifier Joshua Goodall kicking things off on Court One against Teimuraz Gabashvili.
