Britain 'looking to bright future' in post-Murray era

For truthful long, Andy Murray has been nan epicentre of British tennis.

It goes without saying nan athletics will not beryllium nan aforesaid without a superstar who brought unparalleled success, shifted nan dial of anticipation and raised standards crossed nan board.

Strong showings by Britain's adjacent procreation astatine nan caller US Open, though, provided optimism for anyone worrying really nan void mightiness beryllium filled.

With New York semi-finalist Jack Draper receiving a hero's invited connected his return home, nan Davis Cup arena successful Manchester presented nan opportunity to gauge nan temper without nan talismanic Murray.

Even though nan men's squad were yet incapable to advancement to nan quarter-finals shape successful beforehand of a grounds 15,700 crowd, nan feelgood facet was not diminished.

"We've moved connected from Andy Murray. We're not looking backmost to nan past. We're looking to nan future," said Jan Harris, a long-time personnel of nan British Association of Tennis Supporters (BATS).

Emma Raducanu, who is nan only Briton different than Murray to triumph a Grand Slam singles title successful nan past 20 years, drew disapproval for saying tennis "moves connected quickly", external successful nan aftermath of his retirement.

In truth, it was a pragmatic appraisal which has been echoed by galore astatine nan Manchester Arena complete nan past week.

"Andy was a once-in-a-lifetime subordinate and an unthinkable plus for our sport, successful position of raising visibility and bringing caller fans into tennis," said LTA main executive Scott Lloyd.

"But nan early is besides looking bright."

British number 1 Draper arrived successful Manchester caller from his exploits successful New York, receiving an ebullient ovation from nan proud location supporters who recognised nan cleanable timing of his success.

Long considered arsenic nan heir to Murray, Draper's breakout Grand Slam capacity came successful nan first awesome since nan erstwhile world number one's retirement.

Leading nan hopes of nan nation, successful nan Davis Cup astatine least, is simply a work which has already been bestowed upon Draper.

"I deliberation he will grip it well. We can't awkward distant from it - he will beryllium a focal point," said Leon Smith, caput of British men's tennis and Davis Cup captain.

"But that is why it is important to person different players up to enarthrosis immoderate of that."

Draper is nan only British subordinate aged 22 aliases nether presently successful nan men's apical 250, though 23-year-old Jacob Fearnley has entered nan speech aft soaring up to a career-high 129th by sweeping up his 3rd ATP Challenger title of nan year.

On nan women's side, 21-year-old Raducanu - backmost wrong nan apical 75 aft seeing her advancement derailed by injuries - is nan evident prime erstwhile predicting who mightiness situation astatine nan very top.

Sonay Kartal is nan only different Briton aged 22 aliases nether wrong nan women's apical 100. A puerility rival of 2021 US Open champion Raducanu, she crowned her caller acceleration pinch a maiden WTA title connected Sunday.

And what astir nan moreover younger talent coming through? The eye-catching performances of nan British juniors astatine nan US Open bode well.

Mika Stojsavljevic, 15, provided nan cleanable pick-me-up from Draper's exit by winning nan girls' singles a time later, while 16-year-old Mimi Xu and 17-year-old Charlie Robertson showed their immense imaginable by reaching nan past four.

Henry Searle, 18, is continuing his improvement aft becoming nan first Briton to triumph nan Wimbledon boys' singles past year.

Then location is Hannah Klugman, a 15-year-old who won nan prestigious Orange Bowl title past year.

“There is simply a feelgood facet astatine nan moment, location is nary doubt," said seasoned Dan Evans, who became Britain's 2nd astir capped Davis Cup subordinate past week.

"There are immoderate bully stories but location is simply a large quality betwixt nan stories and putting it retired location connected nan court."

Murray has been nan main protagonist successful British tennis for nan past 2 decades, but location has been support from others who person created storylines.

Only Raducanu has managed to triumph a Grand Slam singles title, however, pursuing her fairytale of New York arsenic a teenage qualifier.

Johanna Konta reached 3 awesome semi-finals betwixt 2016 and 2019, pinch Kyle Edmund and Cameron Norrie matching that feat astatine nan 2018 Australian Open and 2022 Wimbledon.

Added to that, Jamie Murray, Joe Salisbury, Neal Skupski and Henry Patten person each lifted Grand Slam doubles trophies since 2016.

So what constitutes occurrence for British tennis - now and successful early years? It is simply a constituent which has been debated for astir of nan past 2 decades.

Is it much Grand Slam singles champions for illustration Murray and Raducanu?

Is it much players classed wrong nan world's apical 100?

Or is it attaining larger information figures crossed nan nation?

"Of course, nan reply is we strive towards each of these," said Lloyd.

"Having Grand Slam champions is nary mean feat but of people having players spell heavy successful nan biggest events brings visibility and inspiration for each our tennis fans and subordinate base, and helps to promote youngsters to prime up a racquet.

"The much players we person competing successful nan apical 200 successful nan world helps push and propulsion each our players to nan champion they tin be."

Currently location are six players - Draper, 28-year-old Katie Boulter, 29-year-old Norrie, 28-year-old Harriet Dart, Raducanu and caller entrant Kartal - successful nan singles apical 100s.

Billy Harris, who made his Davis Cup debut aged 29 past week, and 34-year-old Evans are among different 8 Britons classed wrong nan apical 200.

"When you look backmost astatine nan truth that astatine immoderate points Andy was our only antheral subordinate successful apical 200 of nan rankings, we surely person acold much extent these days," said Lloyd.

However, that pales successful comparison to nan numbers produced by Australia, France and nan United States - who, for illustration Britain, person nan use of being a cash-rich Grand Slam nation.

All 3 nations person beardown numbers successful nan ATP apical 100, though Australia only person 1 subordinate successful nan WTA apical 100.

Argentina, who hit Britain successful nan Davis Cup connected Friday, and Italy besides person spot successful extent connected nan ATP side, while Russia and nan Czech Republic person produced talented pools successful nan WTA.

"We would emotion to person what Argentina person but I support saying clip and clip again, we don't person nan numbers aliases ecosystem yet to let that to happen," added Smith.

As immoderate fans already look to nan future, it will beryllium fascinating to spot nan post-Murray effect connected British liking successful nan sport.

Put simply, Murray has stuck bums connected seats. The signs, though, person been encouraging.

The opening Davis Cup necktie against Finland - played connected a midweek day during schoolhouse term-time - was watched by astir 6,500 fans.

Crowds built steadily passim nan week-long arena and culminated successful a sell-out 15,700 attendance connected Sunday.

"Whether you for illustration it aliases not, Andy Murray sold nan tickets earlier - that's nan bottommost line. That's really we sewage group done nan door," said Evans.

"So without him, getting complete 15,000 is an exceptional effort."

Setting a caller British Davis Cup grounds - moreover erstwhile nan chances of Smith's squad earning a cleanable expanse of Canada to advancement - was rather nan statement.

So really tin nan temper of nan contiguous post-Murray scenery beryllium summed up?

While watching successful a metropolis which loves to waste and acquisition connected its philharmonic heritage, a statement from seminal Manchester indie band, nan Stone Roses, succinctly does nan job.

'The past was yours. But nan future's mine.'