Andy Murray criticises LTA chiefs over failure to build on his success
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Murray has said that hip pain is likely to force his retirement this year
Australian Open 2019 |
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Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 14-27 January |
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Andy Murray has criticised British tennis for failing to translate his achievements into grassroots growth in the sport at home.
The 31-year-old's future is in doubt as he contemplates further hip surgery.
The three-time Grand Slam winner says not enough has been done by the Lawn Tennis Association to build on British success in recent years.
"I'm not sure Britain has really capitalised on the last seven or eight years of success we've had," he said.
"Whether it be myself, my brother, Jo [Konta], Kyle [Edmund], the Davis Cup, those sorts of things, I'm not sure how much we've done there.
"There are quite a few players coming through that have potential to go on and do better, but obviously you are talking about the high end of the game."
Murray, who was beaten in an emotional five-set match by Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday, has been at the forefront of the sport in Britain since coming through as a junior, but has been critical of the sport's governing body on many occasions.
In 2015 after Britain's first Davis Cup victory since 1936, the Scot said talking to the LTA about the future of British tennis was "a waste of his time" and that "nothing ever gets done".
He is concerned that when he retires, an opportunity will have been missed to grow the sport.
"Maybe it's something I should have given more thought to while I was playing but I never felt that was my job to do that," he added.
"It is a little bit disappointing. I don't understand how in the last eight to 10 years that participation is dropping - I don't get it.
"I know in Scotland that there have not been many indoor courts built in the last 10 years. That seems madness. I don't understand why that is.
"You need to get kids playing; you need to have the facilities that allow them to do that."
The LTA said: "Andy Murray is not just the greatest British tennis player of all time, but one of the greatest sports people this country has ever produced.
"But his impact for our sport goes far beyond his own trophy cabinet.
"It has transcended tennis and taken the British people's interest and excitement in tennis to levels not seen before and the LTA is determined to translate his inspiration into a lasting legacy."
Murray's older brother Jamie, who starts his Australian Open doubles campaign on Thursday, said: "My greatest worry was that he would stop one day, which obviously feels like it's been probably accelerated, and you would look around the country and there wouldn't be much to show for it.
"If you go around the country you probably see that.
"It is sad because how on earth are you going to grow a sport if you can't do it when you've got one of the biggest stars in tennis for the last 10 years, and one of Britain's most prominent sportspeople?"