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Daniel’s a smashing lad, he knows he was wrong

by Carl Marsden
9/ 7/2008

THE father of Failsworth’s rising tennis ace Daniel Smethurst has defended the teenager over reports that he stayed out late the night before a crucial Wimbledon match.

Smethurst, 17, is currently waiting to learn his fate after the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) sent him home from the National Tennis Centre in London.

He and his doubles partner, Dan Evans, 18, from Birmingham, were seen out late last Wednesday night. The next day they lost their second round Junior Wimbledon match to Australian third seeds Matt Reid and Bernard Tomic 6-3 6-4.

An LTA spokesman said: "We are aware of an incident that took place during the championships and are currently investigating it. Two junior players have been sent home from the National Tennis Centre."

But speaking to the Advertiser, Daniel’s father, Nigel Smethurst, said national newspaper reports alleging his son was out until 3am were wide of the mark.

"Daniel knows he stepped out of line but I hope people can be a bit more sympathetic," he said. "He trains and works extremely hard and actually called a meeting himself with the LTA to explain what happened.  Daniel bumped into a couple of friends working at Wimbledon and they had a meal and farewell drink as one of them is about to leave for the United States. But Daniel was not drinking alcohol, he never does. And, yes, they were out late – but he was out until around midnight not 3am.  His match the next day was not scheduled to start until later in the day and there was also bad weather forecast. However, he knows better than anyone he still shouldn’t have been out that late and will learn from this.

"Generally the LTA know he is a fast-rising player whose behaviour is usually exemplary. They have had plenty of positive reports about him. He’s a very level-headed lad and this was totally out of character."

The week before Wimbledon, Smethurst – who has jumped from 255th to 39th in the world rankings in the past year – had been singled out for praise by Paul Hutchins, head of men’s tennis at the LTA, after reaching the singles final of the prestigious Roehampton Junior Championships.

"Smethy has been threatening to really move on for several months," he said. "Sure enough all the buy-in on what he has had to do to improve has paid off."

The talented ex-Failsworth Sports College pupil began playing tennis at the age of three and has since represented Great Britain in events across America and Europe. For the past five years he has lived away from home. Last year he moved into the National Tennis Centre to be groomed for stardom.

LTA officials are now considering what action to take with suspension or possible funding withdrawal among the sanctions open to them.

As the Advertiser went to press, Daniel was expecting to learn his fate.