A succulent steak at LG’s the previous night in the company of Andy Murray, Brad Gilbert and Paul Annacone among others, and two poached eggs on wheat bread on the veranda yesterday morning — it is clear that Tim Henman’s appetite has been restored. Now to take a bite out of what is left of his tennis career.

Henman, 32, does not know what to expect in this ferociously competitive environment, which could make the next couple of years (he is giving himself that, if further injury does not strike him down) the most fascinating yet.

The British No 2 is not yet making the journey to this idyllic resort to be petted and pampered. He is not even here for the golf, reminded that, in 1997, having played a local course to two under par after 12 holes, he woke the next morning with such pain in his right elbow that it would require an operation to put right.

The Pacific Life Open represents the second tournament of Henman’s year — he played two round-robin matches in Las Vegas and restarts today in more conventional mode against Jan Hernych, of the Czech Republic. “Travelling here actually doesn’t do it for me any more,” he said. “But playing matches does. Whatever is going to be for me in the next two or three years, I want to try to make this time the icing on the cake. There isn’t the pressure that there used to be — I’m here to enjoy myself.