Rusedski rocks boat with attack on blazers

British tennis was reverberating last night after a blistering attack from Greg Rusedski on the Lawn Tennis Association just as he and Tim Henman were about to launch their challenge for Olympic gold.

In a wide-ranging attack, Rusedski called for a big shake-up at the LTA, accused Britain's officials of wasting the cash mountain amassed by Wimbledon and even suggested that some of the money should go to other British Olympic competitors who had a chance of winning medals, rather than tennis players.

Officials in both Sydney and London were angered and embarrassed by the British No 2's untimely attack, which packed all the venom of his celebrated serve. Clearly taken aback, the Olympic tennis team's manager Roger Taylor took time out to make several long-distance phone calls before the LTA made a diplomatic response to the Canadian-born Rusedski but also reminded him "to concentrate on the task in hand, namely representing Great Britain in the Olympic Games".

Within hours of the press conference in which Rusedski lambasted the LTA, the player issued a statement saying he had "made a mistake" in raising the issue during the Olympics. But he made no apologies for the content of his outburst which left the LTA reeling from the latest criticism from a major figure in the British game.

"The money other athletes have is nothing compared to the money our federation has at the LTA," said Rusedski.

"I'm thinking if they're getting to the Olympics and achieving things, why can't we do the same in tennis with all the finance?

"It doesn't make sense. You'd rather almost see the finance going to the athletes who are doing the stuff."

Although Rusedski stopped just short of calling for the LTA's new chief executive John Crowther to resign he insisted that changes at a high level were the only way forward. He could not see the logic of recently sacking the director of tennis Richard Lewis and then maintaining the same policies through the chief executive John Crowther.

"I don't understand how you can get rid of Richard and then all of a sudden you still have John in there when Richard was basically telling John what to do," said Rusedski.

In his later statement Rusedski said: "I do not believe anyone should be fired but there is much we can do to make a positive change and difference."

Rusedski called for dramatic changes in funding improvement in British tennis. "With the finance we have we could go out and search more in the minorities and for people in the council estates.

"We could have more higher-rated coaches like Bob Brett and Sven Groeneveld [Rusedski's former coach] and put them in the federation and get things done - put people in the Olympics with chances, because the future is not looking so wonderful at the moment.

Later Rusedski apologised "to anyone of my team-mates who I might have distracted or brought unnecessary attention to." But he added: "When I get back home I would like to sit down with John Crowther . . . and discuss the future of British tennis."

The LTA were already issuing an invitation, asking Rusedski to "share his thoughts" on the future of the British game with them on his return from the Olympics.

Taylor defended the association, calling Rusedski's attack "unfortunate . . . particularly at a time when the LTA are making many positive changes."

Sadly Rusedski's outburst, after he had practised for his opening match with the Frenchman Arnaud Clément today, coincided with the elimination of the first Briton, Barry Cowan, in the burning sun.

The Lancashire player lasted almost two hours before falling 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 to Daniel Nestor. Although Nestor languishes 94 places behind Cowan in the rankings, the Canadian brought his greater experience to bear.

• Venus Williams hit back at John McEnroe yesterday , saying the former player turned commentator did not know her well enough to criticise her attitude. "I've never had a conversation with him, he doesn't know me," said the Wimbledon and US Open champion after demolishing Henrieta Nagyova in her first Olympic match.

McEnroe recently remarked that Venus and her sister Serena were "cold as ice" and lacked respect for opponents.