There's not been a British woman ranked in the world's top 100 tennis players since a decade ago, when Samantha Smith was the UK's number one.

Smith's highest achievement was to reach the fourth round in her home Slam at Wimbledon. She reached the second round at the 1997 US Open and 1999 Australian Open, and reached a career-high 55 in the women’s tour rankings.

Currently the highest-ranked female player in Britain is Katie O’Brien, whose best international result is a second-round appearance at Wimbledon last year. She has won two ITF titles – but effectively has barely a 50 per cent winning percentage in top-flight tennis. She is ranked 123 in the world.

'The fitness of the British people has been criticised and with childhood obesity at its highest level, tennis is not seen as a cool sport'


In men’s tennis it is a little better, with Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski responsible for a comparative golden age with four semi-finals and four quarter-finals at Wimbledon by Henman, and Rusedski playing in a US Open final. 

But while there is some limited success at top level for the men, in the ranks of the ladies it is quite simply a crisis. Indeed, it is probably the worst-ever period for the nation that stages the grandest of all the Grand Slams.

There is an argument that the life of some modern tennis players is just too easy when a player breaks into the top echelon. Tennis has something of a middle-class image and most players competing at a social level. In the eastern regions of the world, players have to fight their way through the ranks, battling poverty and adversity to reach the top ranks. Modern recruitment drives have not changed this image.

Roger Draper, the boss of English tennis, has been aggressive in his attempts to change the fortunes of the game in Britain. As well as the image of tennis, the state of local community courts has been lamented. The number of juniors coming through the ranks is abysmal compared with other European countries, and the money spent on awareness campaigns is at its highest level.

The fitness of the British people has been criticised and with childhood obesity at its highest level, tennis is not seen as a cool sport. Amateur players have a poor approach to fitness.

The LTA has made huge changes to the national environment, focusing on high-performance centres, and the import of international coaches to work the country's talent.  Financial assistance is also given, with the LTA funding the coaching of Andy Murray, who is overseen by Brad Gilbert, Andre Agassi’s ex-coach.  A new tennis centre in Roehampton has been built, but Draper concedes that success may not come for another generation.

Funding to sport by the British government is low in comparison with other major European countries, despite a huge influx of cash from Wimbledon.

Pressure from other codes does not help, with rugby, football and cricket being the dominant sporting cultures in the country. The groundwork is being done, but it may not be enough until a once-in-a-lifetime player can inspire the public imagination.