Britain's leading tennis players have already turned their attention to the grass-court season following another disappointing Grand Slam showing at the French Open. For the third consecutive major tournament, no British singles player reached the fourth round, with Katie Boulter and Fran Jones the only two to win a match in Paris.
British struggles on clay are not new, though last year's French Open, when Jack Draper and Cameron Norrie both reached the fourth round, was an exception. This year, Draper was sidelined by injury, and Norrie retired during his first-round match due to a rib problem. Sonay Kartal, who would have had direct entry, is also injured, while Emma Raducanu arrived in Paris short of matches after illness.
The Lawn Tennis Association noted that 16 British players competed in the singles main and qualifying draws, the most in the Open Era. However, most were in qualifying, with only Toby Samuel making it through. While depth has improved since Andy Murray's peak, the lack of a reliable performer in the latter stages of Grand Slams remains a concern.
Anne Keothavong, Britain's Billie Jean King Cup captain, told the Press Association: "We have been spoiled with Andy Murray. We've been unfortunate Jack Draper's been out injured... but it does take a bit of luck sometimes, and patience." She added that the strength in depth on the men's side is encouraging, while the women's side is still developing.
There is optimism for the grass-court season, where British players traditionally excel. Jacob Fearnley, who needs a wild card for Wimbledon, said: "Going into the grass season, the Brits tend to do well. You'll see some people you've never heard of making deep runs." Raducanu has rehired coach Andrew Richardson, who guided her to the 2021 US Open title, but Keothavong urged caution: "Expectations should remain low... the biggest thing is for her to remain fit and healthy."
