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12 April 2010
Britain’s new Davis Cup captain will be Leon Smith, the Lawn Tennis Association has announced this morning. Smith takes over from John Lloyd, who stepped down after a record fifth consecutive defeat for Britain in the Davis Cup.
Smith has been a professional tennis coach for 16 years, and was most recently the LTA’s head of player development in men’s tennis. “This is a huge honour and an irresistible challenge for me,” Smith said. “I know the players, and I know that together we can get Britain back to winning ways in the Davis Cup.”
Smith has also been promoted to the position of LTA head of men’s tennis, as one of the recommendations of a review into men’s tennis carried out by LTA player director, Steven Martens, following Great Britain’s Davis Cup defeat to Lithuania last month.
“Leon is the perfect fit for this important role, at this stage in the development of British men’s tennis,” said Martens. ”He’s a young British coach full of energy and passion, who’s already proved he’s a quick learner, and has the respect of the players.”
The new captain will be supported by a selection of British coaches for Great Britain’s next Davis Cup by BNP Paribas tie, a Europe/Africa Zone Group II match against Turkey at Eastbourne from 9 to 11 July.
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