London:  British veteran Tim Henman has been ruled out of the year opening Australian Open due to a knee injury that aggravated during pre-Christmas training. 

The 32-year-old is the second big name set to miss the opening Grand Slam of the season starting Jan 15, after Aussie Mark Philippoussis pulled out also due to a knee injury.
 

Henman told the Times newspaper that he needs to rest the knee for up to 10 days, preventing him from making the trip to Australia.
 

"I had to make sure I got it right because you don't go to Australia for a Grand Slam to try to fight your way through one match, it's about going the whole way," he said.

"My preparation had been spot on and now this. It's a terrible disappointment," said the player who has missed only one of the last 46 majors going back more than a decade.

The Brit, whose game picked up markedly during this past season, has put his chronic back troubles behind him with a solid fitness regime.

Henman, ranked 39, ended his season in October with a loss in Basel.