Canadian tennis chief takes up post in Britain’s LTA

LONDON: Britain are turning to the top official in Canadian tennis to improve their fortunes on the world stage.

Michael Downey was hired as the chief executive of Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association on Tuesday, ending his nine-year tenure as president and chief executive of Tennis Canada.

Despite being extremely well funded, mainly due to the profits handed down from Wimbledon, British tennis has little top-level talent outside Andy Murray, who this year became Britain’s first men’s singles winner at the All England Club since 1936.

Laura Robson, ranked 38, is the only Briton in the women’s top 50.

“The opportunity that Andy Murray is now a Wimbledon champion, two-time Grand Slam champion, is immense for tennis in Britain,” said Downey, who was formerly the regional president for Canada’s largest brewery, Molson Canada.

“Andy Murray’s biggest contribution to tennis in Britain is winning. That’s when you want to write about him, that’s when people want to follow him, that’s when kids are going to go out, pick up racquets and want to be Andy Murray. And I believe there’s a bevy of young talent that’s coming up in Britain that is going to follow Andy to the podium.”

Downey will take up his new role on Jan 6 as the replacement for Roger Draper. — AP