BBC SPORT | Tennis | Britain facing tennis wilderness



By Tom Fordyce BBC Sport Online

Britain's tennis future is being undermined by a lack of funds and deep-seated problems with the country's clubs.

Patrice Hagelauer, performance director of the Lawn Tennis Association, admitted to BBC Sport Online that it could take a decade to find the next Tim Henman.

We are far behind

Patrice Hagelauer

And the Frenchman revealed that the �30m profit from Wimbledon each year pales in comparison to the amount British tennis needs.

Britain have been drawn away to Australia in next year's world group of the Davis Cup and, even with both Henman and Greg Rusedski fit, their prospects of progressing will not be high.

Britain to face Australia

When Henman - aged 28 - and Rusedski - 29 - retire, the situation is likely to get much worse.

"It took 15 years for France to become the tennis nation they are now, where they regularly produce top-100 players," said Hagelauer.

Patrice Hagelauer makes a point
Hagelauer: big task ahead

"We are starting now. I believe we can go faster, but it is getting harder.

"Each year you have more players coming through. The standard of the world's top 200 is as good as the top 100 five years ago."

Former Davis Cup captain David Lloyd told the BBC after last month's win over Thailand that the British cupboard was bare.

"I don't see anyone at all," he said.

"I don't see any boys or girls that are coming through to be what I would call world-class players."

Hagelauer told BBC Sport Online that finances were at the root of the problem.

Cash, clubs and kids
Hagelauer on the problems of British tennis

"There's no doubt about it. The money we get from Wimbledon is a ridiculously small amount compared to what other European countries have," he said.

"Take France as an example. It has 9,200 clubs compared to the 2,400 on Britain.

For Britain to get anywhere near what other countries spend, you are talking billions

David Lloyd

"But the big difference is that their clubs are getting financial support from government. We are far behind.

"If you take just one small club - four courts, one indoor bubble, one clubhouse - that will cost you �400,000 to buy the land, build the facilities and maintain them.

"Take half the number of clubs in France - 5,000 - multiplied by �400,000 and you see how much they are spending.

"When you pay your taxes in France, you know you money goes towards schools and hospitals - but it will also be spent on sport.

British tennis: the way forward

"It makes a huge difference. Yes, you have the �30m profits from Wimbledon, half of which goes to support British clubs, but to get anywhere near what other countries spend, you are talking billions."

Britain has not won a Davis Cup World Group tie since 1986.

And they face the daunting prospect of a trip to Australia if they are to buck that trend in next year's world group.


	Links to more Tennis stories