London, Oct. 4 Former British tennis star Tim Henman has revealed that he did not hit a tennis ball for 17 months after retirement two years ago.

The Scotsman quoted Henman, 35, as saying that he now prefers spending time with his wife and three young daughters, which is why he rarely picks up a tennis racquet despite his lifelong dedication to the sport.

Henman now spends his leisure time playing golf.

Although he recently became a scratch (no handicap) player, Henman has no intentions of following other former tennis stars - such as Ivan Lendl - into the professional level of the game.

"I'm not good enough, but even if I was, it's not something I would want," Henman said on the sidelines of the Dunhill Championship pro-am event at St Andrews.

Henman said he relishes being away from the merry-go-round of training, travelling and tournaments.

After his high-profile years as the "Golden Boy" of British tennis he was very much in demand as a media pundit.

In fact, within half-an-hour of his retirement, he was offered a place on BBC1's top-rated Strictly Come Dancing celebrity dance competition.

But he has been rejecting such offers ever since.

"My official reply then, and for the last three years, has been that I would rather stick pins in my eyes. There is not a chance in hell of me ever going on something like that.

"Firstly, I hate that sort of thing. I was never interested in the fame game, the celebrity. And secondly, I am possibly the worst dancer in history. It's not a great combination," he said. (ANI)