Why do the UK not produce quality tennis player especially Women Players?

Question

I find is incredible that a country with our tennis facilities only has Andy Murray to show form it since Tim Henman. Murray trained in Spain anyway so why is it the Russians and the Argentinians produce many tennis talents male and female.

Answer 1

I ask the same question about Spanish women players. There are two ranked within the top 100, but at least fifteen on the men's side, not to mention two within the top 10.

And clearly, there are youth programs, otherwise, there would be no Nadal, Ferrer, Roberto, Moya, etc.

Answer 2

Anna Keothavong is the top ranked british player in the womens tour and she's not even in the top 150? Whereas Russian tennis players are dominating womens tennis at present with 3 in the top 5, 8 in the top 15 and around 15 in the top 100. What are the chances of this happening 20 years ago when the Americans, British and aussie women were making their mark. Womens tennis really has revoultionised over the last decade.

Answer 3

The UK has never really had the passion or the push that other countries like Spain, Russia, USA, Argentina, France have had. Plus look at how Tim Henman was treated. He had a fairly decent career and for his ability and talent he made it to the 4th Round of Oz 3 years straight, SF at both the French & US once, and then Wimbledon SF 4 times. His highest ranking was 4th so he made it pretty much as far as he should have. He won 11 Career Titles in singles and 4 more in doubles along with an Olypic Silver Medal in Atlanta '96. And over his 14 year Pro career earned $11,635,542 and represented the UK in Davis Cup play proudly.

Tim was upper crust and came from a sporting family: his father was accomplished at tennis. His grandfather and great-grandfather also competed at Wimbledon. Between the ages of 10 and 17 he was a member of the David Lloyd Slater Squad, where he trained alongside a number of other young British tennis hopefuls. Henman won many titles at various different tournaments, some at smaller places such as Ilkleys tennis club.  While still at school, Henman was diagnosed with osteochondritis, a bone disease (one form of chondritis). However, he kept playing tennis, and in 1992 won the National Junior titles in singles and doubles, deciding to join the professional tour in 1993.

Henman announced at a press conference on August 23, 2007 that he would retire from Tennis after the Davis Cup match against Croatia in September 2007. Henman played his final match in the Davis Cup tie against Croatia on September 22, 2007. The doubles match with Jamie Murray was played on Court 1 at Wimbledon which they won 4–6 6–4 7–6 7-5; Tim fittingly hitting the winner. The match put Great Britain in an unassailable 3–0 lead and back in the World Group, with the doubles win being added to singles wins the previous day from Henman and Andy Murray. After the match Henman told Sue Barker in an interview on BBC Television and in front of the Court 1 crowd, "It's occasions like this and fans like this that I will miss so much".

Unfortunately the commoners and ignorant masses never appreciated Tim but rather would dis him since he never won a Grand Slam...like they are so easy to win. h**l look at Djokovic he only has one under his belt and his fans are insanely loyal calling him the next #1. Federer has 12 on his way to surpassing Sampras' 14 and people disrespect him as well.  Tennis it seems has been and still is looked upon as a sport of affluence in Great Britain & the UK. And the only real talent the Davis Cup team has now is what, Andy & Jamie Murray, two lads from Scotland...God Bless 'em and an American outcast in Mary Pierce.

Looking back, John Lloyd, reached one Grand Slam singles final AO '77 and won three Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. He was the first husband of the former top woman player Chris Evert and the younger brother of the former British Davis Cup captain David Lloyd. At the Australian Open in 1977, Lloyd became the first British male tennis player in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam singles final. He lost in five sets to America's Vitas Gerulaitis 6–3, 7–6, 5–7, 3–6, 6–2. The next time a British man reached a Grand Slam final was 20 years later when Greg Rusedski made the final of the 1997 US Open and lost to Patrick Rafter. Greg was originally from Canada but became a Brit.

Perhaps Britain should have allowed Novak Djokovic and his family to enter back in 2006. In May 2006, various reports appeared in the British media about Djokovic's mother Dijana reportedly approaching Britain's Lawn Tennis Association about her son joining British tennis ranks and the possibility of their entire 5-person family moving from Serbia to live in Britain. h**l Jamie Murray is doing more than just playing mixed with Jelena Jankovic I beat so she must have her sights set on escaping Serbia too. Imagine Nole and Jelena representing Great Britain, add them to a Canadian, and two Scots. Tennis is doing alright in the UK eh? Hahaha

Answer 4

haha Yes thats true we dont !!! (hangs head in shame) But hey we dont even produce good male tennis players eh ? I mean Henman....hahahaha enough said and now Murray I cant stand his game and the way the british commentators suck up his a$$ like seriously they really really go overboard about him haha SHUT UP i wanna smash the tv when they start there ramble especially Barry Cowan, Mark Petchey and that other slime ball commentator dont no his name. lol They wanna s*x Andy Murray...See the way they cheer when he gets a point its like calm down lol (its worse than sharapova`s grunting) Im pretty sure there having an orgasim in the studio watching murray it has to be said !!! lol And before all u Murray fans start an say i must hate scottish people blah blah. I am Scottish hahahahahahaha Dont i do my country proud ? Vamos Rafa xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Answer 5

Perhaps they don't have the youth programs that other countries have in place. Also, population could have something to do with it. There are less people in the UK than say...the US, so chances are in the US that your going to find that kid with mad talent for becoming a pro.

Answer 6

They're training to be dentists, so there's not enough people left to play tennis anymore.