British juniors are seen as spoiled brats, says Judy Murray

Judy Murray, mother of the British No 1s in both singles and doubles, greeted with resigned dismay the decision to send home Marcus Willis, one of the country's top junior players, from the Australian Open.

The 17-year-old from Berkshire was scratched from the Open boys' event last Sunday for persistent ill-discipline and Murray feels his departure is symptomatic of a wider problem.

"Many of the juniors from other countries seem hungrier as they don't get provided with so many opportunities and coaching staff," she said.

"In many ways our kids are spoiled by the opportunities they have. We have to find a way to make them hungrier, set goals for them and then help them achieve them.

"It is often said that British juniors are lazy, ill-disciplined and lack fight on court -- that's the reputation they've got unfortunately. I do find it irritating, but that's what people in tennis think of our juniors."

Willis was sent home by his Lawn Tennis Association-funded coaches for such offences as being late for practice, missing transport and leaving his rackets behind at his hotel.

LTA chief executive Roger Draper and his staff at the governing body have pledged to get tough after the embarrassment last year of some top juniors boasting about their partying exploits on social networking websites.

"You always hear foreign coaches and players talking about all the money spent on British juniors. They ask about the money and where all our players are.

"The British boys and girls have had a reputation for several years now. I'm sure if you asked most of the foreign coaches why Britain hasn't had more success in the juniors they will say that it has been made too easy for them.

"There is definitely an element of jealousy in what the foreign coaches say, but the fact is money can't buy you success. You occasionally see British players out there on the big stage of the junior Grand Slams and they look like deer caught in headlights."

Andy Murray was a top junior, and won the 2004 U.S Open. "When Andy was in the juniors he never lacked fight and desire. He was very self-motivated," said his mother, who has also been instrumental in the career of British No 3 Jamie Baker.

"Andy knew that he had to work hard at his tennis. I would have been extremely disappointed if he or Jamie had been sent home from a junior Grand Slam for poor attitude, and for turning up without any rackets.

"Being sent on an expenses-paid trip to a Grand Slam is a great opportunity and one that should not be missed. These juniors have to be told this is a job."

Tim Henman has spoken along similar lines about the need for both Britain's juniors and better senior players to display both greater nous and motivation in furthering their careers.

The new regime at Roehampton's National Tennis Centre have made it their goal to promote self-sufficiency and there is the odd sign of recovery within the junior programme.

Among the promising are Daniel Evans, who is the third seed for the boys' event in Australia and yesterday won his way through to the second round.

Bolton's George Morgan won the under-14 event at the prestigious Orange Bowl in Miami last month while Londoner Laura Robson is an outstanding prospect in the same age group for girls.

The problem is that the numbers of prospects are still thin compared to countries like France and Spain, making it more difficult to take a stringent approach with the talented ones who step out of line.