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Lloyd labels British tennis a 'disaster' after Ward snub

James Ward was consistently in the world's top 250 before being hit by glandular fever © Getty Images

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Former Great Britain Davis Cup captain David Lloyd has branded British tennis a 'disaster' and labelled the LTA a 'mockery' after James Ward was snubbed for a Wimbledon wildcard.

Ward, 23, displayed his potential on Wednesday with a superb 6-3 7-6(5) triumph over Rainer Schuettler to reach the quarter-finals of the AEGON International. Victory arrived on the back of a first-round win against Feliciano Lopez, who had beaten Rafael Nadal the previous week.

However, British tennis fans will not see Ward at Wimbledon after he was overlooked for a Wimbledon wildcard due to his false ranking of 342. A six-month battle with glandular fever is the reason for his fall down the rankings, but the LTA still had the power to break their 250-ranking criteria for wildcards, as proved by the inclusion of Scottish world No. 259 Jamie Baker.

Their decision not to acknowledge Ward, who will be inside the world's top 250 by the time Wimbledon begins, has angered Lloyd, who believes the LTA are just covering themselves from embarrassment. Not one Englishman will feature in the men's singles this year, and Lloyd believes that is just the way the LTA like it.

"Maybe (LTA chief executive) Roger Draper has done it for a reason so that they don't all lose the first round and he loses his job. He can't get slaughtered now. He's not stupid," Lloyd was quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.

"I don't feel sorry for Alex Bogdanovic because he's had his chance. But I do feel sorry for James Ward after doing so well this week. You would have thought that they would have kept one wildcard floating just in case someone did well this week, which obviously James has done.

"Why is Jamie Baker in? That's what makes the LTA a mockery. They break the 250-ranking rule for Baker but they don't break it for Ward. I feel sorry for every single young player in this country and for the British public. We are a disaster and have been for years."

Ward himself has expressed his frustration at the situation, after becoming one of the only lesser-known British talents to show genuine talent on grass over the past two weeks.

"It was a bit disappointing not to be given a wildcard because I was out for six months. I wish that had been taken into consideration because I have been in the top 250 for the last 18 months consistently," he said.

In defence of the LTA, newly appointed Davis Cup coach Leon Smith believes Ward's form is a sign that British tennis is getting things right by forcing its players to battle for their Wimbledon entry cards.

"What we need to concentrate on is creating an environment where more British players aren't just in the first round of Wimbledon because of a wildcard, but are there on merit," said Smith.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.