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Heather Watson expresses concern about future of British tennis


Former British number one Heather Watson has expressed concerns about the future of British tennis after no Brit progressed to the second round of the French Open.

 

All five Brits that played before Watson, including Andy Murray and Johanna Konta, lost meaning that the Guernsey native went into her first round match against Fiona Ferro as the only Brit left standing in Paris. A straight-sets loss to Ferro means that no Brit won a main draw match at a Grand Slam for the first time since 2013, and also means that no Brit has made the second week of a Grand Slam this year.

“I don’t see who’s next,” said Watson when asked about the state of tennis in Britain. “I feel like we’ve got a good little group of players right now, but little. I don’t see who’s going to be top 50.”

The likes of Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu are considered among the brightest prospects for the nation, with the likes of Harriet Dart and Katie Swan yet to make any major inroads on tour,  though Watson was also critical of the LTA’s policy of only funding a selected group of small players.

“I think personally that more players need to get help rather than just helping your selected players,” she added.


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.