Andy Murray lamented the latest generation of British tennis flops after only two out of 11 starters survived the Wimbledon first round.
Murray, the third seed, is the sole man left standing while Elena Baltacha is the only British woman in the last 64 as Britain equalled its worst showing in the Open era.
”It’s not great. The depth needs to get way better. It’s not acceptable,” said Murray who is attempting to become the first British men’s champion here since Fred Perry in 1936.
”Some of them played well, but they aren’t at the same level as a lot of guys. They don’t play at this level too often because they’re not ranked that high, so when the tight moments come, they don’t play as well.”
British women’s number one Anne Keothavong, one of the few home players able to make the main draw without the leg-up of a wildcard, broke down in tears after her straights sets defeat to Austria’s Patricia Mayer, a player ranked 30 places below her.
”I feel like I’ve let myself down more than anything. Wimbledon is such a special tournament to me. I’ve overcome so much just to get where I am,” said Keovathong.
Baltacha, who had been as far as the third round here, saved national honour in Tuesday’s twilight when she came back from a set down to defeat Ukraine’s Alona Bondarenko, the world number 33.
She next plays experienced Belgian Kirtsen Flipkins with a potential third round clash with world number one Dinara Safina the potential reward for victory.
”It was a shame that all of them were going out in three sets pretty much,” said the world 106.
Britain’s feeble efforts were summed up by the performance of 25-year-old Alex Bogdanovic who has lost all eight matches he has played at Wimbledon.
His latest attempt to get beyond the opening Tuesday ended in familiar fashion, a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 defeat at the hands of Czech 20th seed Tomas Berdych.
But with true British pluck, the world 191 is not giving up even though his dismal record makes him one of the worst performers at the All England Club.
”I’m not really concerned about that. I go out there every year, trying to win my match, to do my best. It doesn’t matter if I lose eight times, ten times,” he said.
”Definitely every year I’m getting better and stronger. This is giving me confidence just to keep working hard and keep believing that I can get myself back in the top hundred, where I believe I deserve.” — AFP
