Lta’s Draper Sets London 2012 Target

Roger Draper, chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association, has backed the new
system set in place at the governing body by setting a target of at least five
British players in the world’s top 100 by the time the London 2012 Olympics come
round.

Draper commented: ‘By 2012, we should have five or six players in the top
100. There can be no excuses anymore. We’ve got some of the best facilities and
the best coaches in the world now.

‘Nobody can really blame the LTA anymore. We’ve got a very clear plan and
world-class people in place. We’ve got probably the best facility in the world.
We’ve got some of the best sports science back-up. Now it’s really down to the
players.’

Since taking over as chief executive in April 2006, Draper has instigated
some major reforms at the LTA, cutting administrative staff back while making a
number of high-profile coaching appointments.

He has also overseen the opening of a new £40m National Tennis Centre at
Roehampton.

Draper says the right system is now in place to ensure that players coming
through have the right attitude as well as the necessary talent.

‘Our job is to support but to make it quite an uncomfortable journey. We’ve
got the talent in this country – it’s about getting them doing the right things.
It’s about coaching versus competition. We’ve got some of the best stroke
players in the world but they can’t win tennis matches.

‘That desire, hunger and competitive edge has got to be drilled in at a much
earlier age. All the new approaches we’re taking are going to take four or five
years to kick in but we are going to have numbers in depth going forward.’