Draper: Too much negativity about British tennis

Lawn Tennis Association chief Roger Draper says he expects to remain in the job for five years. even though the organization is constantly criticized for underachieving at the pro level. Andy Murray is the only British man in the world's Top 100 at No. 4, while on the women?s side, veteran Elena Baltacha and teenager heather Watson rank No. 61 and No. 93, respectively.

"We've always said it's a long-term program and our measures aren't just around Top 100. They are around juniors competing, our business efficiency," he told the Guardian. "We had a target of 10 players in the Top 100, four singles and six doubles. At the moment we've got three singles and seven doubles." It's about continuous improvement and building on some of the things in place."

The LTA invests around $95 million dollars a year in British tennis, but has been taken to task for spending too much on administration.

"One of the things in tennis that's always struck me is that because people aren't used to success there's all this negativity," Draper said. "You talk to people in tennis and within 10 seconds they talk about negativity or criticism, rather than actually being positive about their sport."

Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-news/~3/OrfK_Axf78U/

clothing athletic jogging trail