Anne Keothavong: LTA ignored my offer to help youngsters play tennis

Keovathong is the latest in a string of stars to criticise the LTA
(Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
Chris Jones2 December 2015

Anne Keothavong has claimed the Lawn Tennis Association ignores home-grown coaching talent, despite the sport’s governing body insisting it has an “open door” policy to listen to the views of players.

The former British women’s No1 said that after retiring two and a half years ago, she offered to hit balls with youngsters in a voluntary role at the £40million National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, close to where she lives, but had only been contacted once since.

She told BBC Radio 5 live: “You’ve got to make the most of the people who are passionate about the game. There are so many people in British tennis who want to give back, but maybe they’re seen as threats.”

Keothavong’s comments follow sustained criticism of the LTA and chief executive Michael Downey by Andy Murray and members of the Great Britain Davis Cup winning team.

Downey finally broke his silence yesterday, claiming he would be happy to speak to anyone in the sport, despite Murray stating it was waste of his time to meet with the LTA hierarchy.

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