Brits At Wimbledon

Wimbledon Analysis

So Laura Robson saves GB the embarrassment of only having one player in the second round at Wimbledon. Her doubling of the total shouldn’t hide the fact that the governing body, The Lawn Tennis Associated (LTA) has failed to adequately develop the sport over several decades.

Each year we get a short piece on BBC News, and a longer, in-depth discussion on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying how the LTA are getting kids involved and developing existing talent, except it’s the same discussion year after year, and we see no change.

Remember Andy Murray did not come out of the LTA system. His mother was an excellent coach, and when he had reached the required level, he left the UK to progress. Prior to Murray we had Henman, and there a was brief overlap. Are we going to get the same with one, or possibly two players waiting to step into Murray’s shoes once he retires? We really need new young talent to come through before then to improve the overall standard.

It’s not as if there’s a lack of funds in the UK for Tennis, Wimbledon and the end of season champion’s trophy at the O2 in London see to that. Though names and faces may change over the years, the LTA must ultimately take responsibility for not progressing the sport to the level it should be at in the UK.