WIMBLEDON 2009: Tennis legend Martina Navratilova: You Brits have it too easy

British tennis players are soft and spoiled, according to Wimbledon legend Martina Navratilova, and that is the main reason for the country's shortage of top talent.

Apart from the obvious exception of Andy Murray, who left home as a teenager to learn his craft in Barcelona, too many have coaching and facilities presented to them on a plate without enduring the hardships that make champions.

Home truths: Anne Keothavong was one of nine British entrants in the singles draw at Wimbledon to fall at the first hurdle

 

'We have the same problem in the United States,' said Navratilova. 'And it might have something to do with the fact that have it too easy.'

She compared the British players' situation with her own upbringing in Prague, where she would travel across the city by public transport to snatch some valuable practice.

'I used to catch a train and a tram and then walk for half a mile with all my tennis gear and school books just to hit for one hour,' said Navratilova. 'And then it would take me another hour to get home.

'I think the kids have become a little soft. It's the case in the United States and it's the case here. It's just too easy for them. Some of the other countries have far less but the players are more eager and it's paying off for them.'

Only one player other than Murray of Britain's 11 entrants in the main singles draws lasted beyond the first round, in the equal worst performance at Wimbledon in the open era since 1968, and Elena Baltacha was then heavily beaten in the second round.

The worst performer was probably Alex Bogdanovic, who lost in the first round for the eighth successive time after receiving his eighth wild card.

In that time he has 'won' almost �100,000 in prize money. While Murray has shown the way, his success has not been the product of a British system.

A hard act to follow: Martina Navratilova says British players are pampered and too soft

'You only have one top player and he was brought up outside the UK,' said Navratilova, an ambassador for HSBC and nine-time ladies' singles winner.

'This country is not producing the quantity or quality of players that it should be producing. Andy is a talent and he just happens to be Scottish. But I don't think the Lawn Tennis Association helped his development. He was at the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona. They should have an academy like that here that would produce players equipped to do well on the circuit.'

The £40million National Tennis Centre at Roehampton was built to fill the gap in facilities for up-and-coming players but, since its opening in 2006, it has yet to yield the desired results of giving Murray some company in the world's top 100, although there have been some notable improvements on the women's side.

The LTA are able to fund players' coaching and travel because they receive much of the profits of Wimbledon each year, as well as sponsorship and public money.

When Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said the Government money could be cut if British failures continued, LTA chief executive Roger Draper rang him to demand an explanation.

Draper is angry because he believes Sutcliffe is misleading the public over what Government funding his body receives, which comes from Sport England and relates to the numbers of people playing the game at grass roots level, not elite players such as those at Wimbledon.

LTA director of communications, Bruce Philipps, confirmed there had been dialogue with the Government. 'We don't receive performance funding from the Government. We were a little confused, so Roger Draper and the Minister have spoken,' he said.

'My understanding is that the Minister made it clear that he was expressing his disappointment with Wimbledon's results, but then we are all disappointed. Sport England have told us they are very happy with what we are doing and it is a great partnership.'

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