Martin Lee retires.

Salmon · Tennis legend

Martin Lee retires.

Drew · Nov 20, 2006

Greenleaf wrote:

Article on the LTA site. I am too shocked to say anything at this moment.

-- Edited by Drew at 12:43, 2006-11-20

Bladetiger · Pro player

Shocking news, great bloke, decent player, will make a good coach!

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

Such a shame but i guess if he doesn't enjoy his tennis anymore then its the right decision. He'll make a great coach i think.

Happycynic · Pro player

I think if he's started finding tennis work, as opposed to a vocation/hobby that happens to pay the bills, he is right to move on to something he finds rewarding.

Life's too short to do otherwise.

Well, Martin, if you are reading: if I had made it to the top 100 in the world at anything, I'd be proud. Hope you are.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

I remember watching him at Wimbledon with Trotman, and as a singles players in the same shirt as Guga!

Really enjoyed following his career and am gutted he's finished, but I think Martins experience will be very useful for whoever he links up with as a coach.

Just look what Mark Hilton is doing for Dan Evans!

Sheddie · administrator

I'm absolutely gutted at the news, another example of a great talent cut short by injury. Martin was so unlucky that when he was at his peak in 2002, he developed that knee injury, if that hadn't occurred he could have got close to the top 50 given some of the players he was beating. When he slipped back to the wilderness of the 800, I thought that was the end of his career but he did really great over the last couple of years to get back to the top 200.

Given his form since July 2005 onwards, I thought he had a chance of maybe breaking the top 100 again especially when he won a round at Wimbledon but it seems like injuries again stopped him in his tracks at the US Open and this autumn. I guess it was wear and tear as in May this year he said he was starting to up the intensity of his training, must have just been so frustrating.

I wish him well in his next career, he's going to be involved at a new academy at Bisham Abbey where he used to train as a junior. "For me, it’s like coming home,” he said. “I loved it here. The atmosphere was great, the training was top-class, the surroundings were beautiful. I wouldn’t change my childhood for anything. It’s early on, but Win Tennis definitely can be something really good. It takes time to establish a new centre, but I’m really excited that it’s going to go somewhere, especially at the moment because there’s not that much else around.”

Matt Smith and Lee Childs are using the academy as a training base.

Link: "Times": New academy offers throwback which may prove the way forward
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5205-2466885,00.html

Sheddie · administrator

Some of Martin's career highlights:

Was ranked no 1 junior in the world in 1996, won junior Wimbledon doubles that same year. In 1997, he reached rd3 of ATP Queens. Won ATP Matches on clay, grass and indoor hard and played all 4 slams. Reached rd2 of Wimbledon several times.

Reached 1 ATP final [Newport 2001] and two quarters [Nottingham 2001 and Newport 2002].

Had a 2-0 H-H record against James Blake.

Had a 3-1 winning record in Davis Cup, only loss came against Paradorn Srichaphan

Montana Doug · Futures qualifying

He is also a Millwall Supporter which shows some bottle.

I remember his run at Queens in 1997. I still remember thinking that Britain would soon be blessed with three top players. I also remember well his run at Newport in 2001 esp his semi against Blake. There was a great tie break in that match and heading into the third set I had no idea who would win. I was really excited as it was on TV here in the States and I got to watch this young Englishman play. It is such a shame injuries cut his career so short. I wish him nothing but well in the future!