British Tennis Interest On The Rise Thanks To The Murray Family

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 5th February 2014

British Tennis Interest On The Rise Thanks To The Murray Family

epa04035824 Andy Murray of Britain is seen during his quarter final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 22 January 2014. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Michael Downey has only spent a month in his new job, chief executive of Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association, but he is already preaching a familiar mantra; that the success of Andy Murray will boost grass roots tennis in the United Kingdom.

Murray spent more than five months as Wimbledon champion before Downey formally took office in succession to Roger Draper and the figures did of British tennis participation did not exactly sky rocket. But the man head hunted from a similar post at Tennis Canada is understandably brimful of optimism following Britain’s advancement to the Davis Cup’s World Group quarterfinals for the first time in 28 years with the win over the United States last weekend.

Downey is insistent the win in San Diego –highlighted by two Murray singles wins but effectively clinched when James Ward overcame a 130 places differential on the ATP World Tour computer to beat Sam Querrey – will galvanize Britain’s tennis playing public and have significant benefits for participation because of the emotive nature of the Davis Cup.

“From my experience in Canada I think success at Davis Cup and Fed Cup is very important to the health of the sport in the country,” said Downey. “It’s about motivation, pride and the country doing well, and tennis is getting far more coverage today than it normally would and it will again when we play Italy.

“It is also really very special in that this is a team event, and you are representing your country, and it makes it even more special to beat the Americans to advance to the first quarter-final for more than 25 years away, and dealing with a pretty unruly crowd.

“The emotive nature of the Davis Cup indirectly helps things like participation, and I think that was one of the things we maybe didn’t have enough focus on.”

Playing on red clay has long been a supposed anathema to Britain’s Davis Cup chances but the team won 3-1 of a precariously slippery court at the San Diego Padres’ Petco Park and Leon Smith’s team will travel to Italy in early April for a quarterfinal expected to be played on a similar surface.

Downey bought into the Murray factor and said: “We have a good chance in Italy especially with Andy playing – and playing so well – as it helps raise the game of the other players.”

Topics: 10sballs, Andy Murray, British Tennis, Davis Cup, James Ward, Sam Querrey, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Wimbledon