British competitors in the main draw of the French Open may have been conspicuous by their absence this year, but there will be four British boys in the junior competition next week for the first time.

With Andy Murray injured, Greg Rusedski retired, Tim Henman sinking without trace in the first round on Tuesday, Jamie Murray losing in the doubles yesterday and no British women in the main draw (let us not forget James Auckland, who is in the doubles), British involvement has been as dismal as the Parisian weather. But interest should not end there. Graeme Dyce, Dan Evans, Dan Cox and David Rice, all ranked in the top 60 in the ITF junior world rankings, will fly the flag in the junior event, which begins on Sunday.

The British quartet, who have been training at the National Tennis Centre (NTC) in Roehampton, West London, this week, are being shepherded by Magnus Tiederman, a Swedish coach who worked with Thomas Johansson for 12 years, during which he won the Australian Open in 2002. “It’s great that we have four players in the top 60,” Tiederman said, “but it’s not enough, we have to aim higher. The goal for next year is to have six in the main draw of the juniors.

“If one does well the others want to do it; if one is going to make it big, then they all want to make it big. It’s good to have the competition, but at the end of the day it’s an individual sport and you can’t afford to be too nice – you have to want to be the best in the world.”

Tiederman, 44, is a realist and, having worked at the highest level, is not about to get carried away with bold predictions. “We’re not going to have a winner this year,” he said. “We are competing and learning. I am hoping that someone can sneak a quarter-final somewhere.”

Dyce, who won the Australian Open boys’ doubles title in January with Harri Heliovaara, his Finnish partner, offered a more confident opinion after practice at the NTC yesterday. Were it not for his red hair, the Scot, 17, could be described as a carbon copy of Murray, the British No 1.

He was coached by Judy, Andy’s mother, from the age of 8, he swapped Scotland for a training base abroad – Florida to Murray’s Barcelona – and has a junior grand-slam tournament title under his belt. He even shares a room with Zach Gilbert, the son of Brad, Andy Murray’s American coach.

Dyce said: “It’s a big thing for my confidence [his Australian Open victory]. The final was in front of a huge crowd, so it helps to know that I can win in that environment. I feel like I’ve been there and done it.”

Andy Murray, who is receiving treatment on the injury to his right wrist that is putting his involvement at Wimbledon in jeopardy, has been chatting to the juniors at the NTC this week and hits with them when he can. It is too early to say whether their progress is a direct result of the “Andy Murray effect”, but Dyce has no doubt about his influence.

“Obviously Andy’s an inspiration,” he said. “We are from similar backgrounds, so having someone who’s been through what I’ve been through and made it is pretty inspiring.”

Paul Annacone, the head coach of men’s tennis, predicted yesterday that “four to seven” British players would be nearing the top 20 by 2012, so what did Tiederman, the man in charge of the group to which Annacone was referring, make of it? “I think Paul’s comment is realistic,” he said. “We are starting to work extremely intensely with the 12-18 age group. We are putting the structure in place and installing a winning mentality. I think in five years’ time we will be a nation where people will want to come and see how wedo it.”

Tiederman’s excitement is further evidence that the optimism administered by the return to the LTA of Roger Draper, the chief executive, is flowing through the veins of those involved in British tennis. Optimism, unfortunately, does not breed results, but its infectious nature has at least given these juniors a healthy glow.

Four to watch

Dan Evans

ITF world ranking: 24

Age: 17

Based in: Nottingham

David Rice

ITF world ranking:32

Age: 18

Based in: London, NTC

Dan Cox

ITF world ranking: 56

Age: 16

Based in: London, NTC

Graeme Dyce

ITF world ranking: 57

Age: 17

Based in: Florida, at the Bollettieri academy