Tim Henman has criticised the current state of British tennis and fears the future could be even bleaker.

The 28-year-old was speaking in the wake of Patrice Hagelauer's decision to quit as the Lawn Tennis Association's performance director.

The Frenchman is to become his country's Davis Cup coach.

"Losing Patrice is a huge blow," Henman told The Sunday Times. "I thought he had as good a chance as anybody of finally making the long overdue impact.

"I would not call the job mission impossible, but it is certainly getting on in that direction.

"You have to try to change an entire culture in the way we approach tennis, and I cannot see how that can be done.

"There's no way of avoiding the fact, I do fear for British tennis.

"Aside from Greg Rusedski and myself, the rankings are worse now than they have been for a long time.

"A decade ago, when Bill Knight was in charge and I had just set out, we had seven players in the top 200. What have we got now?

"It is imperative the LTA find the right man. I can't see anyone currently involved as having the right credentials.

"Patrice tried to implement change, and unless there is somebody with the same theories, it's going to be a case of starting again."