Murray needs to give more back to UK tennis – Lloyd

Andy Murray has been criticised by David Lloyd for not helping the development of tennis in Great Britain despite leading the country to a first Davis Cup final in 37 years.

Since breaking through on the ATP Tour Murray has raised the profile of British tennis with 35 tournament wins, including two grand slam triumphs.

Murray – the world number two – has also led Great Britain in this year’s Davis Cup, and will be their key man in next week’s final against Belgium.

However, former Davis Cup captain Lloyd feels the 28-year-old needs to do more to grow the game in the United Kingdom.

“The British players in recent years who have been good – Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski, Andy – they don’t in my opinion put enough back,” he told the Mail on Sunday.

“They would say ‘Well, we’re winning this and winning that’. But I don’t mean that.

“I mean putting your heart and soul into it, a passion that is bigger than the person and even bigger than the game. It’s about getting a kid who wants to play for Manchester United to want to play tennis instead.

“Andy is in such an incredible position with power to do that but he doesn’t. I don’t think Andy does justice in presenting himself. I don’t think he goes out of his way to present the game.”

And Murray was not the only one in Lloyd’s sights, with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) also coming under fire.

He added: “All these top players mask the failings, it [the LTA] is a pitiful organisation.

“They built a National Training Centre for £40million. That is my business, I’ve built lots of them. I know how much they cost and it’s maximum £10m, so where did the other £30m go?”