Andy Murray wants players to have say over Davis Cup captain

www.guardian.co.uk - Murray believes top British players should have a voice John Lloyd's job reportedly under threat after defeatAndy Murray called on the LTA last night to let the top British players help decide who should captain them in the Davis Cup. John Lloyd's job is reportedly under serious threat after Britain's humbling 3-2 defeat in Lithuania last weekend, their fifth in a row, which left them one loss away from falling to the lowest level of the competition. Murray decided not to play in the tie but watched events unfold online and believes the players have to have a greater role."The LTA has to decide whether they want to keep John in place," Murray said. "That's totally his decision. But if John does lose his job, then I would like to think the players would have a voice. I'm not saying the players should decide solely on who the captain should be - I don't think that's right - but I think the players should have a strong say."That would involve getting all the players sitting down and discussing who all the possible candidates are to be the captain and then who the players are most comfortable with. We can at least go to the LTA or Roger [Draper] or whoever, and say, 'This is who we would like.' And if they don't want them, then that's fine but at least we've voiced our opinion and then we have got to wait and see what happens."The former British No1 Tim Henman has already ruled himself out of the Davis Cup role, saying he would rather spend time on the golf course at the moment, but another British No1, Greg Rusedski, is reportedly keen.A Britain team consisting of Dan Evans, James Ward, Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski went down 3-2 in Vilnius to a Lithuania team made up of teenagers, with Evans losing the deciding rubber in five sets. Britain now have to beat Turkey in a play-off in July to avoid the ignominy of falling to Europe/Africa Zone Group III, the lowest level of the Davis Cup, where they would join such as Moldova, Liechtenstein and Andorra.The LTA announced an immediate inquiry after the defeat and Lloyd's future is obviously in doubt after what is the worst run of form in the nation's Davis Cup history. But while Murray wants the players to have a say in the future of the captaincy, he also called for an end to the constant criticism of the situation in Britain unless people can come up with constructive ideas of how to improve things."I'm fed up of just reading negative stuff all the time and just constant bashing," he said. "I think there needs to be some more constructive things, people actually coming forward with ideas of what to do to improve, how we can get better as a nation."Every time I read something, it's like 'just build more courts and get more kids playing', which I agree with, but there needs to be [description of] how do you do that, how many courts, where do you put them, how many kids do you need playing and how you're going to teach them how to play tennis."Andy MurrayDavis CupTennisSimon Cambersguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Tennis)

Britain is 'not a tennis nation', says coach Nick Bollettieri

www.guardian.co.uk - Coach defends LTA after Davis Cup defeat by Lithuania 'British tennis has shortcomings with deep historical roots'The tennis coach Nick Bollettieri has defended the Lawn Tennis Association's chief executive, Roger Draper, over last weekend's Davis Cup embarrassment against Lithuania, saying the problem stems from the fact that Britain is "not a tennis nation".In the absence of Andy Murray the youngsters Dan Evans and James Ward slumped to singles defeats on the final day as Lithuania, composed entirely of teenagers, condemned John Lloyd's side to a play-off against Turkey to avoid relegation to Europe/Africa Zone Group III, the lowest tier of the competition.The inquest started immediately, with widespread calls for Draper and Lloyd to be removed from their posts.But Bollettieri, who has coached 10 world No1s in his long career and currently has the Lithuanian No1, Ricardas Berankis, at his academy, has a different opinion."To pick one or two people and start calling for them to be removed isn't a cure-all solution," Bollettieri wrote in his column on www.sportingintelligence.com. "The blame game won't work because British tennis has shortcomings with deep cultural and historical roots. There's even an argument that Britain is not a tennis nation."Sure, you stage the most prestigious event in the world, Wimbledon. But your national sports are soccer and cricket and your Olympic resources go to cycling, rowing, sailing, swimming, all sports at which you excel at or are improving in. Tennis is part of a social scene."So to argue that Roger Draper is responsible for British tennis's ills is to misidentify the problem. If you'd had generations of grand slam winners and they'd disappeared, then seek blame. But those generations of British tennis winners never existed, not this side of the black-and-white movie era."Looking at what can be done to remedy the problem, he added: "In a Utopia I'd say build an academy in England and open it to the world. Put your best and the best of the rest together. But that's not a small ambition, that's a long way off, if at all."[In the short term] I'd say take your best young players and help them to spend time in other, more testing environments, even just for a few weeks here and there."I'm talking now about the players below Murray, the young players like Daniel Evans and James Ward, who played against Lithuania. At their age it should no longer be about techniques, it should be about building physical strength, about conditioning, mentality, strategy and, of course, day-in, day-out improvement against players as good as and better than you."TennisDavis CupAndy Murrayguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Tennis)

Rafael Nadal to warm up for Wimbledon at Queen's Club

www.guardian.co.uk - Spaniard returns after missing out though injury in 2009 'Queen's is a big, important tournament,' says former world No1Rafael Nadal is hoping to regain the Queen's Club title he won in 2008 after confirming his participation in this year's event. The Spaniard was unable to defend his crown last year after succumbing to a knee injury which also forced him out of Wimbledon.But he is relishing the chance to play once again at Queen's. "I always look forward to coming to England to play at the Queen's Club and Wimbledon but this year there is even more motivation because I could not defend my titles last year," said Nadal, who joins the US Open champion, Juan Martín del Potro, in making an early commitment to playing."No one was more disappointed than me that I couldn't play because I love those tournaments," added Nadal. "Queen's is a big, important tournament played at a very nice, traditional club and it was an amazing feeling to win it in 2008 and then to fulfil my dream by winning Wimbledon."To not defend my Wimbledon title last year was one of the toughest decisions in my career, but this is a new year and now I have the chance to go back to England and to compete on the grass again."Rafael NadalTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Tennis)

Tim Henman says he is not interested in Davis Cup captaincy

www.guardian.co.uk - Former world No4 may be tempted in the future 'It doesn't feel like the right time,' says HenmanTim Henman has ruled himself out of the running to be Great Britain's next Davis Cup captain because "it doesn't feel like the right time".The current incumbent, John Lloyd, is considering his future in the role after becoming the first GB captain to oversee five successive defeats when his side lost to Lithuania last weekend.That defeat has left Great Britain on the verge of dropping into Europe/Africa Zone Group III, the lowest tier of the competition, and prompted calls for change within the team.Henman, however, has ruled himself out of taking on the captain's role, although the 35-year-old admitted he would one day like to lead his country."Maybe in three years or in 13 years, sometime in the future, I might be interested in being the Davis Cup captain," the former world No4 told the Sun. "But it doesn't feel like the right time. I'm enjoying my family and my golf - and not having any structure in my life."For 28 of the first 33 years of my life tennis was what I did. I wouldn't change that and I'm sure at some stage I'm going to get more involved and give back to British tennis."But at the moment I would not want the commitment or the responsibility of being Davis Cup captain."Davis CupTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Tennis)

Justine Henin makes swift progress at Indian Wells

www.guardian.co.uk - Former world No1 cruises past Magdalena Rybarikova Belgian will face No31 seed Gisela Dulko in second roundThe former world No1 Justine Henin continued her remarkable return from retirement with a 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova in the first round of the Indian Wells WTA tournament.The 27-year-old Belgian, a wildcard entry at the tournament she won in 2004, broke her opponent twice in each set to triumph in 68 minutes."It's a great feeling," Henin said after booking her place in the next round against the No31 seed, Gisela Dulko of Argentina. "It's a tournament I like a lot and I won here six years ago. It seems like a long time ago."Henin has reached successive finals since returning to the circuit in January after quitting the game in 2008 and she totally outclassed her opponent. The Belgian broke Rybarikova in the first and third games of the match to sweep through the opening set in 36 minutes.Showing no signs of rust in her first match since losing to Serena Williams in the Australian Open final in late January, Henin broke the Slovakian's serve twice more early in the second set to coast to victory.Well though she played, however, she believes it will take her another couple of months before she reaches her top level physically."I still need a few more tournaments," Henin said. "In Australia I proved to myself that I could make it, that I didn't really need a lot of competition to be at a pretty good level. But I see further than that and with the French Open and Wimbledon, I hope at that time I can be at my best level and in good shape to perform really well."Justine HeninTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Tennis)

Elena Baltacha battles past Alexa Glatch at Indian Wells

www.guardian.co.uk - Elena Baltacha beats Alexa Glatch 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 Anne Keothavong exits in first round in CaliforniaElena Baltacha has progressed to the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, with a 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 victory over the American wild card Alexa Glatch.In a lengthy battle, Baltacha made the most of a string of errors committed by Glatch.Baltacha has climbed into the world's top 65 this year, offering some encouragement for British tennis in a year that has brought Davis Cup humiliation by Lithuania.However, Baltacha's fellow Briton Anne Keothavong fell at the first hurdle at Indian Wells as she lost to Russia's Anna Chakvetadze, who fought back from losing the opening set to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.Tennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Tennis)