Blog: It’s the news we somehow expect but which still massively disappoints, writes Shirley Tart. The weather is perfect, the crowds are delighted, much of the tennis is superb, the Brits are awful.

It really hurts to say it but in just two days of this year’s Wimbledon, our lot are sunk without trace except, of course, for Andy Murray. Watched by reunited girlfriend Kim Sears, he played just well enough yesterday to see himself into the next round.

But as for the rest, they’ve gone, done and dusted, out.

Anne Keothavong, Heather Watson and James Baker went yesterday, Elena Baltacha, Katie O’Brien, Mel South and Laura Robson on Monday.

And so, for the first time in Wimbledon’s 133-year history, only one Briton has made the second round.

Some countries who would think themselves well blessed to have just one player at this prestige tournament, especially one in the top four, but that is simply not good enough for us.

We are a tennis nation. We plough millions year by year into the sport, we get bright and talented youngsters appearing every year, our facilities are excellent, the promise is enormous, the results are dismal.

Yes, real fans are glad just to see super tennis whoever is playing, but what is happening to our own game?

Davis Cup results are dreadful. On Monday, the Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Roger Draper was talking up our progress and getting excited about schemes and projects which, he said, were beginning to pay off.

By Tuesday night at Wimbledon, it was the same old story; every one of our players except for Andy but including Scotland’s Jamie Baker, the only other British man to start, had gone. Kaput.

Maybe it wouldn’t be quite so bad if every match was brilliant play, a clincher, something memorable to watch, but that’s not so.

At best, our lot might start off promising glory but are then unable to clinch the deal. At worst they are, frankly, outplayed.

Yes, young Laura Robson did well on opening day and she was up against former champion Jelena Jankovic and on Centre Court for the first time. As for the rest, like the green bottles on the wall (only faster) they fell leaving little trace of excellence behind them.

Andy Murray is right to be concerned at this so familiar situation once more. And the pressure is now on him in a big way to try and plug the flow.

They keep telling us that the wonderful national centre at Roehampton is turning out superb players, that a system of talent spotting and encouraging networkers is beginning to pay off, that regional centres like our own Welti at Shrewsbury are the future.

But it’s Wednesday, first week of our home tournament and Britain’s record is the worst in tennis history. Surely results now speak for themselves.

The Queen is at Wimbledon tomorrow. Let’s hope that Andy Murray fulfills his potential to keep the home flag flying.