Former Davis Cup player Martin Lee is ready to quit tennis.

Lee's career is hanging by a thread as he prepares for his third operation in five years in Manchester this week.

The Sussex star will pull the curtain down on his eight-year professional career should the surgeon's efforts fail to solve a groin problem.

He said: "This is the last resort, the last throw of the dice. I will definitely stop if the operation isn't a success.

"When the surgeon told me I needed it I found it tough to take. This is the lowest I've ever felt.

"I love playing tennis and it has got me down being unable to play. It is heartbreaking not being able to do what I want to do. It's been an awful time."

It is Lee's second operation on the left side of his groin and he has also gone under the knife to repair damage to his left knee.

He accepts he has no choice about whether he should have surgery if he wants to prolong his career.

Lee, 25, from Worthing, said: "The way it is now I cannot play. My only hope is the operation. Basically it is a repair of my previous groin operation. That work has come apart because of wear and tear."

The Angmering club member first hit the headlines by winning the Wimbledon junior doubles with James Trotman nine years ago and becoming world No.1 junior in singles. His first senior world ranking points were earned when he was 15.

Lee galloped into the world top 100 under the guidance of Ian Barclay, who coached Pat Cash to the Wimbledon title in 1987. There were only two players considered better than him in Britain then, Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski.

And, as British No.3, he forced his way into the Davis Cup squad. He was part of the team which played on clay in Ecuador and came away with a victory that saw Britain promoted to the world group.

When he shared Centre Court at Wimbledon with Tim Henman and Pete Sampras the former Worthing High schoolboy was in the big time, but his body was breaking down.

He was diagnosed with Gilmore's Groin in 1999 and visited Harley Street for operation No.1.

Three years later he was back in the operating theatre to cure his knee trouble.

But much of 2003 was wiped out when Lee's groin began to trouble him once more. He had a back ailment for good measure too.

Lee has slid out of the British top ten and plummeted down to around 850 on the world rankings, but his self-belief remains intact.

He said: "I got into the top 100 when I was far from fully fit. I know if my body is 100 per cent that I've got the ability to crack the top 50 and even get back in the Davis Cup squad. Who knows what I can achieve?"

Lee got a boost from a tentative low-key return in the qualifying rounds of a minor event in Bolton last month when he beat Paul Baccanello, an Australian in the world's top 200.

Lee said: "It was encouraging to beat someone so highly ranked. I played well. What added to it was that I'd been out for so long. My previous match, which was in a minor tournament, was about six months before. But my groin went again and I have to face up to reality."

Lee's last appearance was at Wimbledon in 2003 when he lost his first round match against Spaniard David Ferrer.

He reckons that he has played no more than ten singles matches in the past two years. That cannot go on. Lee knows fresh air will not provide the cash to pay for coaching, physio, gym sessions, a sports psychologist and living expenses.

He said: "As a professional I need the money. It is an uphill struggle to survive with the way things are.

"I've rented out a house I own which brings in some revenue and I just try and eke out what I've got as carefully as possible."

Lee revealed he has strong support groups in the shape of his family and Davis Cup captain Jeremy Bates.

He said: "My mum Barbara and dad Brian always try to keep my spirits up. Jeremy is always ringing me to see how I am.

"When you are injured it can often be a case of out of sight out of mind, but Jeremy has never forgotten me."

Lee is trying to remain positive.

"I'm not thinking in terms of retirement. It has been a long haul but I believe I can overcome my problems."

No one likes the idea of having to stop doing something they care passionately about.

Lee clings to hope he will be able to play on but he now recognises he may have to let it go.