BRITISH tennis has long been under the microscope for its inability to produce top players, and last week's Davis Cup defeat to Sweden cruelly exposed the domestic sport's deficiencies once again.

With little genuine talent coming through the ranks to take over at the top from Tim Henman as the leading player, British tennis could be set for another slump after five years of relative success.

However, Mandy Franks, professional coach at Batchwood Tennis Centre in St Albans, is taking a new approach to utilising the potential of her top players by turning to the world-wide web.

"The website will be set up not only to try to help raise funds for our top young players, but also to promote women's tennis in general," said Mandy.

"By appealing to local businesses, and the community, we hope to create interest in the players as well as lighten their financial burden.

"We hope to use the website in a creative way to promote these players as well as appeal for financial contributions, with the benefits of sponsorship hugely beneficial to both sides.

"Importantly, we also want to push women's tennis as much as we can because Britain is currently suffering badly because of a lack of top female players."

Endorsed by former British Ladies' number one Sam Smith, the website, www.tennis_enterprize.com, should be on-line by the end of the month.

To read more of Mandy's views on the state of the domestic game, don't miss this week's issue of The St Albans Observer.