Tennis and the Brits - why do we bother ?

[Miss Demeanour]

Davis Cup humiliation is new low for Britain

There have been times when you wonder whether the reputation of British tennis can fall any lower, but the nation's Davis Cup team last night suffered the most humiliating defeat in their history. Having been relegated last year to Group Two of the Europe Africa Zone, effectively the Davis Cup's third division, Britain were beaten 3-2 in Vilnius by Lithuania, whose team comprised the country's only three players ? each of them teenagers ? with a world ranking.


The nation that hosts the world's most famous tournament and has played in more Davis Cups than any other country ? only Britain have played every year since the competition was launched 110 years ago ? went down to a fifth successive defeat for the first time ever.

There could hardly have been a greater contrast between Britain and their conquerors. While Lithuania's national tennis federation has an annual budget of less than ?100,000, the Lawn Tennis Association, operating out of its swish ?30m national centre in Roehampton, received more than ?29m last year from Wimbledon profits alone. Britain has 52 men with world singles rankings and the leading players receive better funding than their counterparts in almost every other country



Utterly tragic 

[Barman]

A metaphor for the country perhaps...? 

[apc2010]

So Andy Murray final Wimbledon ….on the same day as England footy …  

[Steve]

So Andy Murray final Wimbledon ….on the same day as England footy …

But as it happened it wasn't, it was Thursday