I know I don't post much, mainly because I am often on customer sites where I cannot sign in but I have been watching James progress (and everything else covered here) this year closely. Like many others I was incensed that the LTA site had not covered James achievements.

I emailed Mr Draper at 2.45pm and got a reply at 4.30pm. I used the fantastic background research on this site to support my case.

Here is my email...

Dear Mr Draper

I ought to be astounded that an organisation which is desperate for good news stories has not picked up on the fact that James Ward has become the first Briton to reach a clay court challenger final in 14 years. Hence it is something that Andy Murray never achieved. The sad news is that I am not!

Here is somebody who has reached the goal set for him to achieve a Wimbledon wild card and what coverage do we have? NONE!

There is a fantastic article here. http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090516/ARTICLE/905161039/2050/SPORTS?Title=Ward-gets-past-Yani What do we get on the LTA website? NOTHING!

You cannot even use the excuse that nobody was around to update the website as it happened before Andy Murray's defeat.

Of course I should be surprised that an organisation that professes 'tough love' as the way to improve our players and expects them to play all over the world, then ignores them.

On the other hand a Bulgarian ranked 320 in the world receives his 16th (yes Sixteenth) wild card of the year at Queens and yet has only won four of  those first round matches. No doubt he will  also be given a Wimbledon wildcard whilst higher ranked British players are feeling the effects of 'tough love' and excluded. Double standards could be expected but not that way round.

The cynics say that unless your name is Murray, the LTA is not interested in promoting them. Until now I have never subscribed to that belief but am at a loss to understand this latest omission. Surely somebody at the LTA Headquarters is also a tennis fan and follows their progress!

I would be grateful if you could reply explaining your policy and what other players need to achieve to be recognised by their own governing body.

Yours faithfully

and his reply

Rob...tx for the note and like you I have been following wardys excellent progress with interest this week. I have emailed my web team to ask them to get back to you with a response to your note.

Rog


-- Edited by Robxon on Saturday 16th of May 2009 04:19:35 PM