Henman upbeat despite Aussie Open KO

Tim Henman is hoping to make up for lost time after an injury setback ruled him out of action until the end of January.

Henman was forced to pull out of this month's Australian Open because of a flare up to his injured right knee.

Speaking to his official website www.timhenman.org, Henman said: "I've entered a couple of extra tournaments in Marseille and Rotterdam in February, so hopefully I'll be able to make up for lost time once I do get back on court."

Henman will be hoping for an improvement on 2006 when he disappointed in major tournaments and exited Wimbledon at the second round.

He starts 2007 within the top 40 and is scheduled to play next at the PBZ Zagreb Indoors on January 29.

The 32-year-old British number two was told by specialists he would not be ready in time for the first grand slam of the year, which gets under way in Melbourne on January 15.

Henman picked up the knee injury in October playing a last 16 match at the International Series Gold in Basle.

"Obviously I'm disappointed not to be able to play in Australia but my main concern is getting back to full fitness," he added. "I'd only want to go there if I felt I'd have a chance of doing well and given the situation travelling all the way there isn't an option."

Henman will require another seven to 10 days of rehabilitation on the hamstring injury he picked up in a match with the Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.

"The good news is that the specialist doesn't think it's too serious, though. He's given me a few things to work on and to fine-tune in my off-court programme and he seems to think that it will heal relatively quickly if I do that."