Why is Tim Henman's face all over the papers again?!

[DodgyAgent]

Tennis is a middle class game in the UK. Usually most kids who play can alternatively go and get jobs that will give them the high earnings that they need to live in the UK. In Spain and eastern Europe there is nothing really to lose by giving your life up from an early age to play the game. If things dont work out then players can easily get a job that is low paid as the cost of living is so low. Whereas in the UK a career for a failed tennis player is being a coach.

As for the game being played by poorer members of society then this is a no no simply beacuse players who travel the world need parental support, both emotionally and financially. Given that so few of the lower classes even know who their parents are then this is a non starter.

Henman was far and away better than the UK deserved, and we should try and judge him more by comparing his achievements with other British players over the last 40 years.

[snaw]

Given that so few of the lower classes even know who their parents are then this is a non starter.

?!?!

Never fail eh dodgy ...

Agree with most of it though, we used to play street tennis - i.e. court painted in a spare bit of cement, few milk crates for nets, dodgy old metal racket and away ye go. No illusions about skill or anything but no one I knew had even a seconds coaching anywhere, not even school. There is no grassroots tennis in this country, it's an extremely middle class sport.

I'd like to play now in my area, but most of the courts fall under the local asoc which is incredibly snooty and exclusive. Half their courts are empty most of the time as far as I can see ... what chance have you got of discovering talent if you make it so bloody hard to play?

[DodgyAgent]

?!?!

Never fail eh dodgy ...

Agree with most of it though, we used to play street tennis - i.e. court painted in a spare bit of cement, few milk crates for nets, dodgy old metal racket and away ye go. No illusions about skill or anything but no one I knew had even a seconds coaching anywhere, not even school. There is no grassroots tennis in this country, it's an extremely middle class sport.

I'd like to play now in my area, but most of the courts fall under the local asoc which is incredibly snooty and exclusive. Half their courts are empty most of the time as far as I can see ... what chance have you got of discovering talent if you make it so bloody hard to play?

whereas go to France and every village has two top quality tennis courts.

[BoredBloke]

I like the fact that the Williams family has done better at producing tennis stars than the whole of the UK.

[TimberWolf]

I like the fact that the Williams family has done better at producing tennis stars than the whole of the UK.

Yep, the Federer family too

[Moscow Mule]

?!?!

Never fail eh dodgy ...

Agree with most of it though, we used to play street tennis - i.e. court painted in a spare bit of cement, few milk crates for nets, dodgy old metal racket and away ye go. No illusions about skill or anything but no one I knew had even a seconds coaching anywhere, not even school. There is no grassroots tennis in this country, it's an extremely middle class sport.

I'd like to play now in my area, but most of the courts fall under the local asoc which is incredibly snooty and exclusive. Half their courts are empty most of the time as far as I can see ... what chance have you got of discovering talent if you make it so bloody hard to play?

There is coaching in schools, and clubs for young talent now. I fully intend to utilise these facilities to "hot-house" my kids and turn them into money-making machines...

[kevlong]

So Tim as a TV pundit. No chance. Watching the Mens final yesterday, there were long periods of silence when Tim should have been providing insightful comments on the game.

Compare this with McEnroe's commentary which goes on endlessly, (well perhaps there is a balance in the middle somewhere!!).

Kevlong