Young Brits see hopes dashed

Riby believes he has a future with partner Banks

The defeat of Britain's Andrew Banks and Ben Riby in the junior boys doubles was the icing on a rather stale cake as the nation's talent failed to deliver again at Wimbledon.

The unseeded 17-year-olds lost 6-3 1-6 6-3 to Belgium's Dominique Coene and Kristof Vliegen.

The match however was overshadowed by a controversial over-rule which resulted in the pair crucially losing their serve with the scores at 3-2 to the Belgians in the final set.

Riby had hit what looked to be a good shot down the line - but umpire Marcus Baker took matters into his own hands when he decided the line-judge was unsighted and called it out, which gave Coene and Vliegen the game.

You might say we've done well to get to the final but the fact is we should have won it

Andrew Banks

Banks was disappointed with the eventual outcome.

"You might say we've done well to get to the final but the fact is we should have won it," said Banks.

Optimistic

"We had the chances and obviously we thought it was a tough ruling against us in the third when everything was in the balance."

Banks thought that the umpire made a tough ruling

Despite the loss there are high hopes for the pair who have already made a name for themselves in ITF and Orange Bowl junior doubles.

Riby, who hails from Scarborough, is optimistic that his pairing with Banks will blossom.

"People like Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde are great examples and we feel we are a good partnership which can go on for a bit longer yet," said Riby

"Playing for Britain as a Davis Cup pair could be one ambition and I've already had some words of encouragement from Roger Taylor, the new Great Britain captain, who has watched a few of my matches lately."

This year's Wimbledon was not kind to British, players with Greg Rusedski falling in the first round to a man who had not won in his previous 22 matches.

Tim Henman was the only British singles player to progress past the second round - but he eventually lost to Australian Mark Philippoussis in a thrilling five-set encounter.

The women also disappointed with number one Louise Latimer losing to Anke Huber in the second round.