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This debate is now closed. Below are selection of your e-mails.

There will be no British woman in round two of Wimbledon for the first time in the modern era.

Julie Pullin went down 6-3, 6-1 to Russian Lina Krasnorourtskaya, the world No.45.

And with Elena Baltacha losing to Jelena Dokic and Jane O'Donoghue losing 6-4, 6-2 to Marlene Weingartner, British hopes in the women's tournament came to an abrupt end.

Briton's men fared little better, with Martin Lee, Richard Bloomfield, Mark Hilton and Alex Bogdanovic all suffering first-round exits.

What can be done to boost British tennis?

I left the UK for the states when I was 18 because tennis in England really had nothing left to offer me. When you turn 18 here all the squads and support stops and I was left to make my own decisions. Thank God for the Americans who really embrace their student athletes. Infact, college and university sports in the states is equal to or even biger than professional sports! Pro athletes in the States get recruited straight out of college for the main part, which is why college sports is taken so seriously.

We make fun of Americans a lot but if we want success we have to look at the way their sports are funded and carried out.
Wes, London

Boris Becker said recently when commentating a match where a player was two sets to love down and a break down in the third, that the match was still not over, being best of five sets. That never-give-up attitude is what distinguishes a champion from the rest.
Annemarie, London

As a junior I didn't like to tell peers I played tennis because many saw it as being posh and not 'cool'. It's had a stigma for years of our own making in this country.

Adults at clubs are now having to change their attitudes to juniors though, as the LTA are starting to give conditioned grants based on 'rules' of letting youngsters get court time. It will take years, but it's a step in the right direction.
Andrew Hill, Yorkshire

It is no wonder there are no British women coming forward. We never see women's tennis the rest of the year. We saw 15 minutes of the final at Eastbourne, which was an exciting match.

The 'who-you-know' attitude is still rife. If you don't know the right people the LTA does not accept you Sophie Hilton, London

Also, when commentators like Pat Cash are so rude about the women's game, why would anyone want to put themselves up for ridicule?

The evening programme with John Inverdale is always sexist, with mainly washed-up old male players being sexist and drivelling. A big change of attitude is needed by the BBC to encourage the women.

Don't keep putting them down, and putting too much emphasis and coverage of the men's game.
Ros King, Brighton

We still have an out of date elitist attitude to tennis. Tennis Mothers are a big problem. The 'who-you-know' attitude is still rife. If you don't know the right people the LTA does not accept you.

This kind of treatment is particularly dated, particularly damaging and particularly British.
Sophie Hilton, London

I used to play tennis at junior national level before deciding to go to university instead of playing tennis, so I have seen all the promising young players fade away over the years.

All the players that were assisted by the LTA play in the same way. Jamie Delgado is a perfect example of a player with good technique but no way of winning points.

We are going to have a shock post-Henman and Rusedski, probably having no male players in the second round either James Ashton, Ipswich

The LTA have always shyed away from taking on individuals. Look at players like Fabrice Santoro and Jan-Michael Gambill, who are clearly better than any of the British also-rans, to see that being orthodox is not necessary.

The LTA have always made the same mistakes and every new performance director says it will change.

I returned home from university to find a player that I have coached from time to time and is the most talented player I have seen in a while not being offered a place at one of the training centres because he was not orthodox enough.

We are going to have a shock post-Henman and Rusedski, probably having no male players in the second round either.
James Ashton, Ipswich

Sport should be a fun way to follow a healthy lifestyle. Instead the evidence of tears, trainers and tantrums shows that Wimbledon, in common with most professional sport, has become an emotionally and physically damaging way to make a lot of money.

Do we really want to push our youngsters onto that treadmill just so we can bask in their reflected glory?
Bryan, UK

Tennis draws support from mainly middle class people. Athletics draws support from across the board. This is why our athletes do better at international level Michael Salkeld, London

Two words: LOTTERY MONEY. How many golds did we win at the 2000 Olympics thanks to funding the athletes? I lost count. The same for the Commonwealth Games (and more of the same snobby attitude in response because it wasn't London-based).

There won't be a tennis court in the �5m Regent's Park sports redevelopment. There needs to be the scouting infrastructure as there has been with football for nearly 40 years.

And the BBC needs to ask the question outside of Wimbledon fortnight.
Flynn, England

Tennis draws support from mainly middle class people. Football draws support from mainly working class people. Athletics, on the other hand, draws support from across the board.

This is why our athletes do better at international level and there isn't even the money in it. Give Kelly Holmes a tennis racquet, then we'll be sorted.
Michael Salkeld, London

I agree with Ian UK, this problem seems to come up only when Wimbledon starts up, and the rest of the year they are hidden away so to speak.
Shenika McFarlane, UK

Australians profile their schoolchildren and then recommend to them the sport they would be best suited to Ben Beeching, Surrey

Well, where to begin. Sport and the attitude toward it in this country is an absolute disgrace. No money is always the excuse in schools, but even this is not always the case.

The key word is ATTITUDE. The school I attended had perfectly adequate sports facilities and equipment, but it seemed as though PE was always the most negative class of the week. The teachers viewed us as a burden, and seemed to want the classes over as quickly as possible.

The other aspect that we get horribly wrong is that we try to make children try everything in school. Why make a 6" fit muscular boy attempt to do country dancing or trampolining when he wants to play football or rugby? The answer was always "because the National Curriculum says we have to." So WHY DOES IT SAY THAT for goodness sakes?

The Australians profile their schoolchildren and then recommend to them the sport they would be best suited to, thus producing specialists at a young age.

Of course, the problem is not just in schools. Practically all sports here harbour the elitist attitude and "old boys clubs," with little interest or emphasis on bringing through youngsters, the future.

Coaching costs money, but probably no more than all sorts of other "hobbies" Irene, Scotland

Instead they are happy to just go with the flow and watch as we are embarrassed in the world for our sporting futility. Unbelievable. And the harsh reality is that it will never change.
Ben Beeching, Surrey

At the tennis club where I play, we have a deliberate policy of welcoming EVERYONE to play on a pay and play basis at a reasonable price.

We have a professional coach, who runs tennis courses all year round at a low rate and anyone who shows talent and interest can take up private coaching with him.

OK, this DOES cost money but probably no more than all sorts of other "hobbies" that the average child takes up (how much does your child have in computers and computer games?).

We have good junior and senior teams and enthusiastic senior players who encourage the juniors along; we have one or two juniors who are doing really well.

However, these two now have to concentrate on their schoolwork and so are having to severely cut their time for training and practise, with the result that their standard will drop.

We have an ever growing population of obese couch potatoes Irene, Scotland

Until we have schools that place equal importance upon sports training as they do upon passing tests and exams, we will continue to have a poor show at ALL sports, never mind just tennis.

It is also interesting to note that with the growth of more testing, schoolwork, TV and computer games, we have an ever growing population of obese couch potatoes. Physical activity must be seen to be as important as brain work at school and be given a decent place in all our schools.

That way, you have a better chance of having success in sport, tennis included and have a healthier population as well - you can't lose - but it is a long term investment.
Irene, Scotland

My little sister has just completed GCSE's at a school that has reclassified itself as a 'sports college'. As a result she no longer has to do practical PE and has opted to do theory lessons.

Ridiculous! There is no encouragement to younger children to take up sport, as government guidelines tell us sport is elitist, unfair and "could cause tiredness"!! I despair I really do.
Alan, Newcastle, UK

Let's support the Brits we have at this time of year rather than grumbling about a lack of strength Bugsy, Durham

Is British tennis really in that bad a state? Henman and Rusedski both offer at least hope, and that is more than we had in the days when all we could do was pray Jeremy Bates could pull off upset after upset. There are few male players about today with as good a Wimbledon record as Henman. And regarding the women, Baltacha is still a prospect - with her liver problems she is all but unable to train and still took 11th seed Dokic through three thrilling sets. Let's support the Brits we have at this time of year rather than grumbling about a lack of strength. We have 50 other weeks in the year to do that!
Bugsy, Durham

As a youngster I was a member of the local tennis club. The club's policy was that adult members could turf the junior members off if there were no courts available. This kind of treatment left something of a sour taste. Not exactly the way to produce future champions.
Neil Thompson, Wirral

The next village from where I live has a couple of tennis courts which are rarely used by kids or adults alike. Why? The interest simply isn't there when Wimbledon isn't on.
Allister Webb, England

Why cant we raise the profile of British tennis by inventing a British Cup? Only Brits allowed (Greg & Tim too if possible) seeding as per British ranking and 'wildcards' for top juniors. The BBC could televise it and we could put our players on the map, at least in the UK. It would show our players winning and give fans a true sight of our players. I know it seems silly to add another tournament but it could really benefit our game in the long run.
James, London

The way forward is to provide FREE access to courts for kids, so they can develop naturally as players Liam, Bourton, Dorset

I tried to join my local tennis club when I was 10, because I really liked tennis. I went in and was told that I needed references from 2 existing members and to pay �100 fee for the privilege. Since I had just moved to the area I didn't know anyone - so I never really bothered playing tennis after that and played football instead.

This is typical of the middle-class-ness of tennis, there should be more clubs where kids can turn up and play without all the red tape and "white shorts".
Andy Milroy, Preston

It's simple really. You can play football, cricket, rugby etc. on any patch of grass. However access to a tennis court is limited in most areas, especially rural areas. The way forward is to provide FREE access to courts for kids, so they can develop naturally as players.
Liam, Bourton, Dorset

Belgium have two women players in the top three, from a small country with weather as bad as the UK! Which role models did Justine and Kim have to follow? Not Belgian ones! There are plenty or role models for up and coming players to follow. They don't have to be British!
Jen, US (UK ex-pat)

My daughter went on a tennis holiday with the school to France. During the week they had lots of coaching, culminating in a tournament at the end of the week. As my daughter is sporty, they said she couldn't enter the girls tournament because it was unfair to the other girls. So she played in the boys tournament instead. Needless to say, she didn't do very well. So instead of bringing home a prize at the end of the week, she brought home nothing. For some reason this country doesn't like winners.
Barry Giles, Orpington, Kent

I recently took part in a local corporate mixed doubles tournament, which was held at a local tennis club. I caused something of a stir by daring to play in grey shorts... and was asked to wear white next time! Suffice to say I feel almost glad that I didn't get too involved in such an insular, upper class environment where everyone is concerned more with their own self importance than with encouraging kids (and adults) to play.
Mark Draper, Northampton

Really, if we did not have Wimbledon once a year would we honestly care? Ian, UK

Tennis clubs in this country are too exclusive and still have a middle class air to them. Junior players are often pushed off courts to allow senior players to play, as happened regularly at my local club. Maybe a few clay courts here and there might help too.

Another likely reason is that there are too few top British players to inspire youngsters to take up the game. Success breeds success and it will probably take a few more barren years before we see a British grand slam winner.
Greg, UK

Funding is a big problem. I run a small tennis club which is fine for kids of a young age. However for a talented child to really progress they need good equipment (�) join a professional club (more �) to have professional coaching (even more �). It is a far more expensive sport to follow when compared to football. Additionally more indoor courts need to be built so kids can continue playing all year round, at a reasonable price.
Raj, Southall, UK

My younger brother is training to be a tennis coach and he can barely make a living from it. Add to this the huge fees he has to pay to sit an LTA coaching certificate and its easy to see why no-one is interested in Tennis. Without coaches there will never be any top players.
Andy, Manchester

Tennis has never been that popular in Britain, it is considered a game not a sport which is why only women in their mid 40's go to watch Wimbledon. Really, if we did not have Wimbledon once a year would we honestly care?
Ian, UK

Until the government starts to properly take an interest in sport, providing a dedicated sports minister, proper funding, modernising the sports development set up, improving grass roots sport for youngsters and in particular, increasing the importance of sport during education in the same way as the French, the Australians and the Americans we will always lag far behind the rest of the world.

Although there is a tennis court in every British town and village, there is never anywhere to actually get any training! Paul, Wales

This goes for athletics, swimming, football, cricket and all the other sports as well as tennis.

We also need to take a long hard look at the facilities we provide for our sportsmen and women. It is second rate. For example, to have just one Olympic size swimming pool in the whole of the country is a joke. How can we expect our sports pros to compete if the infrastructure and the funding are so sub-standard?

I also believe the country as a whole needs to think about the way it views sport. We need to start developing a winning mentality and get this "it's the taking part that counts" attitude out of our national psyche. When will this country and its government realise the importance and the impact sport has on the morale of the country?
Rob, France

The problem is that the LTA only focus their attention on the very top players from a young age instead of nursing the talent of the somewhat 'lesser' players. The money allocated to players should be reduced so more have access to it rather than the top players alone.

Instead of solely focusing on our top 15/16 year olds we should concentrate on the wider range of players, as we've all found out first hand that being a top junior doesn't automatically mean being a good pro.
Wes, London

British tennis is in awful trouble and has been for decades. First of all, nobody is interested unless it's Wimbledon, no other tennis gets the same coverage. People rush out to play for two weeks a year and then forget about it.

Secondly, although there is a tennis court in every British town and village, there is never anywhere to actually get any training! To find and join a tennis club is a nightmare.

Finally, what do you get when you do join a club? In my experience of many sports, it is one of the snootiest things you can get into, and there is often an attitude of 'if you're not from the right side of the tracks we don't want you here.'

Is it any wonder we all stick to football?
Paul, Wales

We need more investment in British tennis, especially at grass roots level. We need more investment in training facilities and making these available to everyone, not just the people who can afford it.

Many people play tennis in the summertime for fun, but not many people seem to think about taking it up as a profession, or joining clubs etc.

Who wants to play tennis when they can play football? Jericho Harris, London

So we need to encourage more people to play tennis, especially the youngsters, and give them facilities in which they can harness their talent.

Also, lottery grants etc. need to be applied for to improve tennis facilities. The government needs to take a lead role in this, and it needs to start diverting more money towards sport in this country. At present its financial contribution towards sport in the UK is feeble.
Krish, Luton, UK

Who wants to play tennis when they can play football? You can only play it in summer, and there isn't anywhere to play it anyway. Bit of a daft question really, isn't it?
Jericho Harris, London

There are a few problems. One is the poor standard of sport taught in schools. Another is the poor state and lack of public tennis courts in general.

And the biggest problem is the way that British society convinces young people that university is the only way to go. Far too many of our young tennis players (and athletes) are giving up sport to go to university because they are pressured into thinking they can't get on without a degree.