By DPA,
London : Britain’s 3-2 Davis Cup humiliation against lowly Lithuania looks likely to produce a major shake-up in the coaching ranks, with former player Greg Rusedski being tipped to replace disgraced John Lloyd.
The British team – minus Andy Murray who was listening on the internet from California where he is preparing for this week’s start of the Indian Wells Masters – were hammered by the tennis minnow.
“I share the deep disappointment and frustration at this result. Five defeats in a row is unacceptable,” Lawn Tennis Association boss Roger Draper said on the organisation’s website.
“So I have asked LTA player director Steven Martens to review last week’s performance and result and report back to me and the LTA main board as soon as possible.
“That review needs to be swift and decisive as it is clear some real improvements need to be made.”
Lloyd has already hinted that he might be due the chop after a run of losses in Davis Cup for one of the biggest-budget tennis nations in the world.
“We’ll see about my future, it’s too early yet,” said the California-based coach who has lost an unprecedented five ties in a row. “We’ll just have to see how it goes in the next few days.”
Officials are keeping a lid on any potential shake-up: “We’ve had no direct contact at all (with Rusedski),” Martens told the BBC.
“Clearly we have to be swift and decisive. But it is very important that in the heat of the battle you don’t do anything emotional.”
The LTA receives more than 40 million dollars per year as a result of bountiful Wimbledon profits and has done so for decades. Lithuania’s federation works with around $150,000 per annum.
Canadian-born Rusedski was an avid Davis Cup participant along with rival Tim Henman in his playing days and currently is employed as a roving ambassador by the cash-flush LTA.
Lithuania beat the British with a team of teenagers, one only aged 15 and ranked outside the Top 500. The host nation for Wimbledon now face a relegation play-off against Turkey in July to avoid a crash into the lowest zonal tier of the worldwide.
Rusedski lost a US Open final and once stood fourth in the world, playing 20 ties for his adopted nation between 1995 and 2007.
“Grinning Greg” had a short-sharp response to the weekend hammering: “Cannot believe we have lost to Lithuania in Davis Cup. Unbelievable” he said on his Twitter page.