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Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe has vowed not to cut the Lawn Tennis Association’s public funding despite criticism of the governing body for not achieving better results.

Parliamentary advisory body the All-Party Tennis Group said this week that the LTA’s reputation was at an “all-time low” following Great Britain's embarrassing Davis Cup loss to Lithuania – its fifth consecutive defeat in the competition.

But Sutcliffe confirmed that a £26m investment in the sport will continue, adding: "There is great potential for tennis to grow."

Sport England is distributing £26m of Lottery and Exchequer funding to the LTA between 2009 and 2013 and Sutcliffe believes it will prove to be a worthwhile investment.

"I asked the All-Party Tennis Group to work with the LTA to help improve the game at all levels and help address some of the current challenges that face the sport," he said.

"I thank the group for its report. I believe that there is great potential for tennis to grow in this country and for new people to be brought into the sport.

"Over £26million of public money is being invested into the sport's grassroots and we want to see a good return from that funding.



"But I have confidence in Sport England holding the LTA to account on this, as they do with all other sports that receive public funding."