According to the Lawn Tennis Association, there are about 1,300 clay-courts in Great Britain. That is around 5% of the 23,000 total number of courts.

In contrast, about 60% of courts in Spain - one of the leading nations on the surface - are clay.

British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith told BBC Radio 5 Live that for clubs, the cost of maintaining a clay court is difficult - something not helped by the British weather.

The LTA's National Tennis Centre has four Italian clay courts and the governing body is "forming new partnerships" with clay-court facilities in Barcelona and Girona, where young players can go for camps and training sessions.

Murray played in junior clay tournaments around Europe from the age of 12 and moved to Spain's Sanchez-Casal Academy aged 15.

Fran Jones is another British player who went to the same academy.

"I do believe there is a slight reluctance for young British players to take a step out of the comfort zone," Jones told BBC Sport.

"If the LTA can build a tolerance on clay for the juniors and feel they can step out of the comfort zone, I feel it would make things more smooth sailing."