One of the top officials in British tennis is stepping down in September, ending a seven-year tenure in which he was often criticised for failing to improve the country’s fortunes at elite level despite record levels of income.

Roger Draper said he made the decision to leave his role as chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association just as British tennis “is entering a very exciting phase”.

Andy Murray is the current US Open and Olympic champion while the women’s game in Britain is finally improving, with two players – Heather Watson and Laura Robson – ranked in the top 50.

“Now is the right time for me to hand over the baton to a new leader who can build on what has been achieved in recent years,” Draper said in an LTA statement.

However, Draper has often been attacked by sections of the British media who believe Britain should be more successful in the sport, given the levels of funding it receives.

Last year, the LTA invested STG73.2 million ($A106.5 million), more than half of which came from profits from Wimbledon, yet Murray is the only British man in the top 200 in the singles rankings.