This was in the Times a few days ago:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5205-2431364,00.html


Excerpt:

One of the objectives of the latest LTA blueprint, subtitled “The new vision for British tennis is winning”, is that the LTA will “improve access to players of all ages and abilities and deliver support to attract and retain more people to play tennis, this will require us to work closely with central and local Government to source more funds for community tennis and provide inclusive playing and improving opportunities for children and adults”. More funds?

What of the £30 million it takes from Wimbledon each year? And what bright spark decided that ACE magazine should be put up for sale when tennis needs all the publicity it can get? Such a decision seems even more daft when one sits in Paris, where the late Philippe Chatrier, first and finest of tennis visionaries, produced Tennis De France, a magazine that inspired thousands to become involved in the sport.

The LTA does not need Annacone. It does not need a whole raft of new people with trendy job titles. It needs a revelation.

THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTIONS

The issues that the LTA needs to address . . .

# Would Andy Murray winning a grand-slam event inspire a generation of young British people to want to play tennis?

# Do we need a head of men’s and women’s tennis and, if so, what will their functions be?

# Why do Great Britain need a Davis Cup coach?

# What qualifications does Paul Annacone, an American who has coached two players in the top ten, have to run British men’s tennis?

# In Britain, there are 8,400 junior players in competition. What is their level of competition and of what standard are they?

# If the LTA’s mantra is decentralisation, what is the point of a National Tennis Centre, how many British players do you expect to use it and for what?