By Tony Fairbairn at Wimbledon
- Ten British players reached the second round at Wimbledon, the most since 1984
- The likes of Heather Watson and Jack Draper have praised the LTA’s strategy and the Battle of the Brits tournament as the recent inspiration for British unity.
LONDON, ENGLAND – British tennis players have been inspired by the LTA and Battle of the Brits for the recent camaraderie as this is Britain’s best Wimbledon result for 38 years.
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Once upon a time in an alternative universe, British tennis fans would just be relying on the likes of Andy Murray and Johanna Konta to deliver the goods at Wimbledon with other British interest falling at the first hurdle. There would even be occasions where there would be no British participation in singles in the second week as British tennis has often had the cloud of not capitalising on past successes created by the Murray family with no depth of talent in the singles game.
However that could be about to change because British tennis has had its best result for 38 years as ten British players made the second round of the singles this year with four of those reaching the third round. Now as we go through the second week Heather Watson and Cameron Norrie were into the last 16 with excitement about the future reaching an all-time high.
One of the reasons given for the recent success is the recent invention of the Battle of the Brits tournament. It was a team event that was created during the pandemic by the LTA to ensure that Brits are keeping competitive while tennis was put on hold. As Watson alluded to her after her first round win this is one of the main reasons why there is a strong unity within British tennis players at the moment:
“We’re actually in a group chat from the Battle of the Brits. We all message each other after big wins. We’re all supporting each other,” Watson recalled in her press conference.
“We have great team spirit amongst the male and female players. There’s not a massive group of us, so I think we’re really just tightly knit.”
An amazing and healthy environment
It’s not just players like Watson, who has been on the circuit for a long time, that has praised the unity within British tennis it’s also up and coming player such as Ryan Peniston, Jack Draper and Katie Boulter who have fed off the camaraderie between each other which has ultimately translated in their results:
“I think, yeah, British tennis right now is an amazing environment. We’re all pushing each other every day, whether it’s in training or at tournaments. Then, yeah, when we get to come home to England and play all in the same tournaments, it’s even better. We see each other after wins, say, Congratulations. Even after losses say, Tough luck. It’s a really nice atmosphere at the moment,” Peniston said.
“I’m absolutely loving it. I feel like everyone’s pushing themselves, almost just spurring each other on with the little bit of magic that’s going on in British tennis right now. I feel like I’m catching a little bit of it and I hope that I can push other people with that. It’s really nice to be a part of it. I know how hard they work behind the scenes. Everyone’s doing great, and hopefully we can keep that going. We’re in a really, really good place. I hope that, yeah, many more wins will come off the back of that,” Boulter added in her praise of the LTA.
“That’s a big thing in British tennis at the moment. All these guys are all my friends, as well. Not only do we practice together, we go out together, we have a good time. All great guys. All want to improve and keep learning and get to the top of the sport. I think the LTA has done an unbelievable job of cultivating that as well for the players,” Draper expanded on the point of the help from the LTA contributing to this year’s Wimbledon campaign.
“Yeah, I like we’re all getting behind each other, want each other to do well. That’s a big part of the success at the moment. Whenever we’re in the UK, we get together and I suppose we chat on a day-to-day basis when we’re training. We can always organize stuff. Yeah, definitely seeing them win fired me up and I was ready to go. Yeah, massively.
“I think it’s important in British tennis as well that we all work as a team to drive each other forward. I’m a competitor myself. Definitely seeing others do well, even though I’m really happy for them, it definitely motivates me and gets me going. I want to match that and do better. I think the energy in British tennis at the moment is really good, really healthy competition for all the players.”
It’s clear that the strategy implemented by the LTA and others within the British tennis hierarchy is now finally starting to reap its rewards.
Strength in depth and the future
A takeaway from this year’s Wimbledon is that British tennis has strength in depth that they can rely on for years to come. Supporting them in the best way in the future from funding to giving extra opportunities is going to be crucial in continuing the positive development of the British tennis system. As Liam Broady explained in his press conference the belief is there in the British camp:
“For me, the most exciting thing now is that we have like this plethora of talent coming through. All these young guys are driving each other on. We’re getting more upsets over the grass than I’ve experienced in my time within British tennis,” Broady said.
“I think it’s very exciting. You see these guys, normally you’d see someone going up against a Kyrgios like myself in Australia. You think a bit of a lamb to slaughter. Whereas Paul went out there today and probably comes off court feeling like he could have won it. We’ve got another seven, eight Brits that sort of age that are coming through. I think it’s an exciting time.”
The strength in depth is certainly exciting as is the growing in belief from the majority of the players but what happens next? This has been the age old question arguably holding back the further growth of British tennis as the next goal must be to have a similar success chain to a France or an Italy, where several players can make a surge into the world’s top 100.
The impact of the UK pro league series has been a good start with some of the players in the 150-350 mark have been competing against each other. Another step in the right direction would be hosting more challenger and ITF events as well as making the sport more accessible in this country. A clear strategy in terms of affordable TV deals, affordable tennis club memberships and overall support could benefit the system even more and lead to further success in British tennis.
For now though let’s revel in the present and think about the future later, British tennis is thriving at Wimbledon and long may that continue.
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