Henman set to end year on a high

Tennis

Oxford's Tim Henman will end 1995 with a double bonus: his highest world ranking and the knowledge that next month he will be named as Britain's No 1.

Henman saw his world ranking rise this week from 98 to 95 in the final list to be issued before the New Year - even though he did not hit a single ball in competition. World rankings are based on a player's best 14 tournaments in a 12-month period, and three men ranked above him lost points last week.

When 1995 began Henman, 21, was suffering from a broken ankle and was ranked at 167. He will also become the British No 1 when the 1995 home rankings are announced next month, even though the Canadian-born Greg Rusedski is far higher in the world rankings at No 37. Domestic rankings are only given to players who have been eligible to play for Britain during the past 12 months.