British tennis chief Roger Draper says critics have taken aim at the Lawn Tennis Association because it's an easy target, The Independent reports. Sport England recently cut the LTA's funding by $842,000 dollars in the wake of poor adult participation figures, where the number of adults playing tennis at least once a week has dropped by almost 30 percent in two years.
"Rugby union, rugby league and cricket all took a cut in funding as well," he said. "People like having a bit of a pop at the LTA. We're quite an easy target but we've just got to keep focused on the things we can control and keep working hard to try to improve the sport. There's so many good things going on in British tennis. The highs in sport are very high and the lows are very low. In my sort of job we've had quite a good year and my name has not really been mentioned much, when things are going well, and of course as soon as there's a bit of bad news, everyone wants to sack Roger Draper again.
"We're six years into a 10-year change program in the sport, there are lots of positive things going on and you've got to keep your perspective but continue to roll your sleeves up. But you are a human being so of course it affects you when you see your name in the newspapers and everyone saying 'sack Roger Draper' and so on. So yes, it does affect you, but I'm really motivated and focused on helping to grow British tennis. I wouldn't be doing this job if I wasn't."