Smash hit

Compare that with France, where there are 575,262 registered members of tennis clubs aged under 18. Small wonder there are 12 French men and 10 women in the world’s top 100s.

As Philippe Bouin, respected tennis correspondent of L’Equipe, said: “Tennis in Britain is not a sport but a social pastime. Your clubs are not a place to educate young players but simply for people too old to ever become champions just to enjoy themselves. How can you expect strength in depth when youngsters who dream of winning Wimbledon cannot even get on a court?”

Where the Britons came to grief

1st round men’s singles

Joshua Goodall (age 23, ranked 188) lost to Michael Llodra (France, age 29, ranked 137) 4-6 7-6 6-4 3-6 6-4

Verdict experience eventually told

Alex Bogdanovic (age 25, ranked 191) lost to Tomas Berdych (Czech Rep, age 23, ranked 20) 6-3 6-4 6-4

Verdict historically predictable

James Ward (age 22, ranked 207) lost to Fernando Verdasco (Spain, age 25, ranked 8) 6-1 6-3 6-4

Verdict simply overwhelmed

Daniel Evans (age 19, ranked 305) lost to Nikolay Davydenko (Russia, age 28, ranked 11) 6-2 6-3 6-3

Verdict unsurprisingly outclassed