As Wimbledon 2003 draws to a dramatic close this weekend, three subjects are being discussed in the capital:

Was Greg Rusedski punished enough for his outburst in the first week? Will Tim Henman ever win? Why can't England produce winning tennis players? We went out on the streets to discover what the locals really thought.

Miles Platt, from Grove Park said: "Rusedski just lost his temper. It's fine. It was just frustration and it's actually a shame he didn't go further. Henman will never win it, he just hasn't got that competitive spirit, no matter how much he does that crush a grape thing - it just doesn't ring true."

He continued: "It's surprising that we have a major world tournament with lots of money coming in, but it's not filtering down to grass roots levels. Tennis should be for all, not just the privileged."

Mike Dunster of Staveley Gardens disagreed: "Rusedski's language was appaling. It brings the level of the game down dramatically. I think he should have been suspended for 6 months from any tournament, not just fined. That would tone the game down and bring it back to the right standards. The money from the fines should be invested back into the game to help encourage and produce young new talent. Henman doesn't seem to have the finishing touches. If he could keep going we would have a champion. Maybe he should change coaches."

His friend, Andrew Stevens, argued: "If Henman had the passion Rusedski showed, maybe he would do a little better, but I can't see him getting beyond the semis again."

Neil Flynn, a member of Chiswick Polytechnic Tennis Club felt his club did encourage youngsters and had active coaching programmes: "Basically, tennis is still a middle-aged white sport and you still generally have to be a member of a club to play. People who have to fight harder in life as youngsters have more fighting spirit, but they generally don't get the support to help their tennis. But we are doing our bit to try and find the next Williams sister for the UK."

Bruce Levi, commented on The Times article about the refurbishment of the Back Common Tennis courts near Turnham Green: "It's about time those courts were revitalised. It's a great space and there's a lot of people in the area who would use them. I don't think Henman will do it, I made a bet three years ago that he would never win Wimbledon. It was a good bet."

Anwar Hasan, a teacher, was more concerned with the roots of the problems within schools: "Not enough is spent on promoting sports in schools. I've worked in many different areas of London and its the same story all over. The quality of the equipment and the facilities are always poor and schools don't forge links with professionals who could inspire the students and generate enthusiasm for sport. We open ourselves up to ridicule as a country because we don't put money into sports."

This sentiment was reiterated by Joanna Barrett, the husband of professional tennis player turned coach, Aubrey Barrett. She said: "There are not enough indoor facilities or good academies with sponsorship programmes in England. The tennis juniors with the real hunger for success don't have the money to carry on with the sport, which is why the sponsorship programmes are needed. Tim Henman had a tennis court in his back garden. It's not enough to rely on people to have their own resources, you need lots of juniors to spread a wide net and proper academies to give them the right facilities with lots of international competitions to bring up the basic standard here."

She concluded: "Henman does seem to be playing well this year, he's got a chance to win and it would be a great boost to the sport if he did."

Updated: 14:27 Friday, July 04, 2003