British players ‘going to make their mark’ at Wimbledon, says top tennis coach

A top tennis coach has said there are still plenty of British players who are “going to make their mark” at this year’s Wimbledon.

Seven British singles players are still standing on day four of the tournament in what remains the UK’s best run at SW19 since 1984.

It comes after 19-year-old Emma Raducanu and two-time Wimbledon champion Sir Andy Murray dropped out of the competition on Wednesday.

British number one Cameron Norrie prevailed in a five-set tussle with Jaume Munar to match his Wimbledon best third round spot.

Harriet Dart and Heather Watson also advanced in the competition.

Speaking about the players to watch out for, Dave Sammel said: “There are British players who are going to make their mark this tournament.

“If you look at the likes of Cam Norrie, he’s somebody who already has a pedigree of winning at the highest level.

“He’s not quite done it yet in a Grand Slam but having got through that five-set match yesterday I think he’s going to be very dangerous.

“Liam [Broady] is trying to go into new territory, some of the other players are trying to go into slightly new territory.

“Heather Watson has been deeper in a Slam before. I think there’s a number of young players, Jack Draper is a phenomenal talent, who could be dangerous for any player.

“If they get through a couple more rounds and the confidence flows, anything is possible.”

Katie Boulter, Jack Draper, Harriet Dart, Liam Broady, Heather Watson and Alastair Gray will be competing in the singles games for team GB.

Norrie is the only one of the seven British singles players not competing on Thursday, instead scheduled to make his return to the hallowed grass courts on Friday.

Mr Sammel, who coaches British number five seed Broady, added there was “tremendous camaraderie” between British players which started during the pandemic and has “gotten stronger” since then.

He said: “After lockdown, when we had the Battle of the Brits, the players got to know each other. There was tremendous camaraderie and I think they got to know each other so well as people during that period.

“That was the catalyst to the tremendous feeling between all of them. I’ve never known in all 35 years of coaching British tennis, the spirit between the players and the support for each other to be so strong.”

“This has just continued and gotten stronger since then. With more success, that feel-good factor carries on, they’re all going to keep pushing each other on.”