Players, poor coaching behind down slide of British tennis: Becker

London, Mar 10 (ANI): The drop in performance of British tennis players at international events has shocked three-time Wimbledon winner Boris Becker, who said players and poor coaching are to blame for it.

"Pressure on young British players? This is a cheap excuse because every nation has that," said Becker.

"The pressure of playing for Great Britain and getting wild cards to Wimbledon and playing at Roehampton is not pressure. Pressure is if you have nothing to eat and you have to win the next round o feed your family," he said. Despite their annual 40 million pounds investment in the sport, the Lawn Tennis Association have failed to find a real British talent since Tim Henman broke through 17 years ago, the Daily Express reports.

Andy Murray did not come through the LTA's system, while Greg Rusedski was imported from Canada.

It has left Britain on the verge of dropping into the lowest level of world tennis unless they win a Davis Cup relegation decider against Turkey in July.

"Maybe after what happened at the weekend everybody now thinks twice about the future," said Becker before this evening's Laureus World Sports Awards here.

"I don't understand it, with such a history of tennis, with Wimbledon and Roehampton, why you struggle so much as a nation. I don't get it."

There are calls for LTA chief executive Roger Draper and Davis Cup coach John Lloyd to be axed. And Becker wants Henman to be brought in.

"Henman's a big role model and has shown it's possible to reach a Wimbledon semi-final. He has been one of the best players in the world," said Becker. (ANI)