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I was incredibly happy that it didn't go longer than 3 sets. I felt obliged to watch it as a tennis fan but without the big 4 it is significantly less appealing (as you've mentioned)

Nadal was sorely missed.Hopefully next year Nadal will win 3 out of 4 Grand Slams.Come on Rafa!

I feel like the golden era of tennis is now coming to an end.

MaccaRuss golden era opf tennis is not ending.Nadal and Djokovic will dominate for at least 2-3 more years.

British tennis should hang it's head in shame . Shockingly elitist failures with the exception of a spanish-trained murray. Worse than golf,so far up itself when it comes to welcoming all it is embarrassing. Where has all the money gone? War torn eastern europe produced many top players in the last decade yet the toffs can't do it here. Real fight is in the breeding don't you know and not the wallet.

The golden era is having 4 players dominating. Not 2.

19359, there certainly are challenges for tennis in this country that I'm hoping new stewardship of the LTA will change.

Obviously lots of other sports and options for kids taking up the game and the problems only get worse with retention and lack of indoor facilities.

Let's see how Michael Downey gets on, I've been fortunate enough to see Canadian tennis programme up close and if he can bring some of that to UK, we could see an upturn in fortunes.

It won't be quick though.

Thanks for your reply Jonty but we have been hearing your last sentence for 30 years already. Hope you are right about improvements and getting a decent coaching system inside the inner city schools may help.

19359, I'm trying to give new set up as much of benefit of doubt as I can

I'm involved in overhauling our junior set up at my club, it will take time to see the changes take effect in terms of juniors who could make transition to adult game.

The big barriers are:

Other interests competing for kids time
Lack of indoor facilities
Cost
LTA/Clubs guiding parents - it's left for parents to find out for themselves

I believe every club should offer free tennis of some sort.