Colin Fleming
Colin Fleming (born 13 August 1984) is a Scottish former professional tennis player who specialized in doubles competitions.[1] Fleming, a right-handed player standing at 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall, turned professional in 2004 after studying economics and finance at the University of Stirling, where he initially balanced academics with early career matches before focusing full-time post-graduation in 2007.[2][1] Over his 13-year career, he achieved a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 17 on 9 September 2013 and amassed over $1 million in prize money, primarily through doubles success.[3][1] Fleming secured eight ATP doubles titles across 19 finals, including three with long-time partner Ross Hutchins, such as the 2011 St. Petersburg Open, the 2012 Eastbourne International, and the 2012 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships.[4][5] His most notable Grand Slam results came in 2011, when he reached the quarterfinals at both Wimbledon (with Hutchins) and the US Open (with American Scott Lipsky), followed by the mixed doubles quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2012 with Su-Wei Hsieh.[6] Additionally, he won a mixed doubles gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi with Jocelyn Rae and represented Great Britain in the Davis Cup on multiple occasions, including a 2014 World Group play-off match alongside Andy Murray.[6][7][8] Retiring from professional play in 2017 at age 33, Fleming shifted to coaching and media roles, notably serving as captain of Great Britain's Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup) team from 2019 to 2021 and contributing as a commentator for broadcasters including BBC, Sky Sports, and Tennis Channel. As of 2025, he continues to work as a commentator and coach. In recent years, he has also coached players on the professional circuit and shared insights on tennis through podcasts and interviews, reflecting on his career amid personal challenges like Hutchins' battle with cancer during their partnership.[4][9][8][10]Early life and personal background
Early life
Colin Fleming was born on 13 August 1984 in Broxburn, Scotland, to Scottish parents Martin and Dorothy Fleming.[11] His father worked as a business consultant, while his mother served as a head teacher; both hailed from Glasgow, with Martin originating from the Maryhill area.[2][12] The family later settled in Linlithgow, where Fleming grew up next door to the local tennis club, fostering an early environment conducive to sports involvement.[12] Fleming's introduction to tennis came at around age three, when he began tagging along with his father to the Linlithgow Tennis Club, often dragging a racquet behind him.[12] This familial encouragement, combined with his parents' support for physical activities, sparked his interest in the sport amid Scotland's developing tennis infrastructure in the 1990s. He has older siblings, Laura and Michael, who also engaged in local club activities, further embedding tennis within the family dynamic.[2] As a junior, Fleming received initial training through local clubs in Scotland and progressed within the British tennis system, participating in regional tournaments such as those held in Dunblane and Stirling before turning 18.[12] These early experiences, including encounters with promising young players like the Murray brothers, honed his skills and paved the way for his transition to university-level tennis.[12]Personal life
Fleming is married to Gemma Fleming, and the couple has two children: a son named Alex, born in 2016, and a daughter named Rose, born in 2014.[13][14][15] The family resides in Linlithgow, Scotland, where Fleming grew up and returned after his university years in Stirling, allowing him to maintain strong ties to his hometown community and balance family life with his professional commitments.[14][12][16] A lifelong supporter of Partick Thistle F.C., Fleming's interest in Scottish football stems from his father's influence, leading the family to hold season tickets and attend matches regularly, including bringing his young children to games at Firhill Stadium.[13] Outside of tennis, Fleming enjoys playing occasional 5-a-side football and golfing with former Partick Thistle players, activities that reflect his engagement with Scottish sports culture.[13]University tennis career
2001–2004
Fleming enrolled at the University of Stirling in 2001 at the age of 17 to study economics and finance on a scholarship, joining the university's tennis team and integrating into the performance programme at the adjacent Scottish National Tennis Centre.[2][8][17] During his freshman and sophomore years, Fleming contributed to the team's participation in British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) tournaments, helping establish a foundation for the programme's competitive presence in Scottish and national university events.[17] As a developing doubles player, he began partnering with teammates, including early collaborations with fellow Scot Jamie Murray on the university courts, which honed his net skills and tactical awareness in the format.[18] By his junior year, Fleming showed progress in doubles by qualifying for ITF Futures events during summers, reaching the semifinals in Tunisia and earning his initial ATP ranking points, signaling his growing potential beyond university play.[8] Fleming balanced his academic pursuits with tennis commitments, maintaining strong performance in his studies while training intensively; he later completed his degree with first-class honors after a brief professional hiatus.[19][2] Although specific freshman or sophomore awards in BUCS tennis are not documented, his consistent involvement laid the groundwork for stronger team and individual results in subsequent years.[17]2005–2007
During 2005 and 2006, Colin Fleming balanced his emerging professional commitments with university tennis at the University of Stirling, where he partnered with Jamie Murray, winning eight titles on the ITF Futures and satellite circuits from 2005 to 2006.[20] Fleming returned full-time to Stirling in 2006 to complete his economics and finance degree, marking his junior and senior years with heightened focus on university competition.[2] In the 2006–2007 season, he captured the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) men's singles championship, defeating M. Jurman of London Metropolitan University in the final.[21] Partnering with M. Lott, also of Stirling, Fleming advanced to the BUCS men's doubles final, where they finished as runners-up to M. Jurman and G. Pavli of London Metropolitan University.[21] These results highlighted Fleming's growing prowess in doubles, earning him national recognition as one of the top university players in the United Kingdom through BUCS honors.[20] Fleming's time at Stirling refined his doubles approach, emphasizing serve-and-volley play to control the net and pressure opponents effectively.[22] The achievements of this period built momentum for his return to professional tennis in 2008.[2]2008
Following his graduation from the University of Stirling in 2007 with a first-class degree in Economics and Finance, Colin Fleming took a position as a commercial graduate at Scottish Power, a utility company, for approximately 10 months.[23][2] In August 2008, Fleming opted to leave his job and commit to professional tennis full-time, rekindling his competitive ambitions after a period away from the sport.[19] Fleming's initial forays into the professional circuit that year focused on ITF Futures events in Europe, where he competed as an unseeded or wildcard entrant to rebuild match fitness and rankings. These outings marked his return to structured competition outside the university performance program he had been part of since 2001.[2] In the fall of 2008, Fleming formed a doubles partnership with fellow Briton Ken Skupski, targeting lower-level tournaments to accumulate experience and points. This pairing proved effective immediately, with the duo securing wins in Futures events that earned Fleming his first ATP doubles ranking points and propelled him into the low 600s by year's end.[19][24]Professional career
2008–2010
Fleming resumed his professional tennis career in August 2008 following a 10-month stint working as a commercial graduate for a utility company, initially focusing on ITF Futures events to regain competitive form. His ATP Tour debut occurred in the qualifying rounds of several tournaments that year, including events in Europe, as he aimed to qualify for main draws while ranked outside the top 600 in doubles.[2] By 2009, Fleming earned direct entry or qualified for his first ATP main draw appearances, primarily partnering with British compatriot Ken Skupski in doubles. Their partnership yielded immediate success at the Open de Moselle in Metz, France, where they captured their maiden ATP title as wild cards, defeating top-seeded French pair Arnaud Clément and Michaël Llodra 2–6, 6–4, 10–5 in the final.[25][26] A few months later, Fleming and Skupski secured their second title of the season at the St. Petersburg Open, overcoming Jérémy Chardy and Richard Gasquet 2–6, 7–5, 10–4 in the championship match.[27] These victories marked a significant breakthrough, elevating Fleming's doubles ranking into the top 100 for the first time and establishing him as a rising specialist in the discipline.[28] In 2010, Fleming maintained his momentum with Skupski early in the year before partnering with fellow Scot Jamie Murray for select events later on, contributing to his sustained presence in the top 100 doubles rankings. A notable achievement came at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, where he teamed with Jocelyn Rae to win the mixed doubles gold medal for Scotland, rallying to defeat Australia's Anastasia Rodionova and Paul Hanley 7–6(5), 6–7(4), 6–2 in the final.[29] This period highlighted Fleming's versatility and growing reputation in doubles, with consistent quarterfinal or better showings in ATP 250 events underscoring his professional establishment.[30]2011–2013
In 2011, Fleming and his regular doubles partner Ross Hutchins achieved their breakthrough at Grand Slam level, reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon where they were defeated in five sets by Christopher Kas and Alexander Peya.[31] Later that year, the British duo equaled this feat at the US Open, advancing to the quarterfinals before losing to Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi 7–5, 2–6, 7–5.[32] Their strong form culminated in capturing the St. Petersburg Open title, defeating Mikhail Elgin and Alexandre Kudryavtsev in the final to secure Fleming's first ATP doubles crown of the season.[33] The partnership between Fleming and Hutchins, which began in 2010 and became full-time in 2011, was marked by complementary styles—Fleming's aggressive net play pairing effectively with Hutchins' baseline solidity—leading to consistent deep runs in tournaments.[10] This synergy propelled them to two titles in 2012: the Delray Beach Open, where they edged out Michal Mertiňák and André Sá in a dramatic super-tiebreak final, and the Eastbourne International, defeating Ken Skupski and Jamie Delgado 6–4, 6–3.[34][35] That year, Fleming reached the mixed doubles quarterfinal at the Australian Open with Liezel Huber (losing to Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi 7–6(7–5), 6–2), and at the US Open with Sania Mirza (upsetting defending champions Melanie Oudin and Jack Sock in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals to Květa Peschke and Marcin Matkowski).[36][37][38] Hutchins' diagnosis with Hodgkin's lymphoma in December 2012 disrupted their momentum, forcing Fleming to adapt by partnering with others while supporting his friend's treatment. In 2013, Fleming won two ATP titles with temporary partners: the Heineken Open in Auckland alongside Bruno Soares, overcoming Johan Brunström and Frederik Nielsen in straight tiebreak sets, and the Open 13 in Marseille with Rohan Bopanna, beating Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Jean-Julien Rojer 6–4, 7–6(7–3).[39][40] Despite the challenges, Fleming reached the final of the Canadian Open with Andy Murray, losing to Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares, a performance that propelled him to a career-high doubles ranking of No. 17 on 9 September 2013.[41][42] The Hutchins health issues tested their bond but highlighted Fleming's resilience, as he dedicated successes to his partner during the ordeal.[10]2014–2017
In 2014, Fleming resumed his long-standing doubles partnership with Ross Hutchins following the latter's recovery from Hodgkin's lymphoma, which had sidelined him for much of the previous year.[43] The duo achieved some early progress, including a first-round victory over Marinko Matosevic and Michal Przysiezny at the Australian Open (4-6, 6-4, 6-0), marking Hutchins' first win since his diagnosis.[44] However, their results were limited overall, with first-round exits in Brisbane and no deep tournament runs or titles, as they struggled to regain their prior form amid partner adjustments and Hutchins' ongoing recovery.[43] Fleming's performance rebounded in 2015, highlighted by a successful new partnership with Jonathan Erlich. The pair won the Shenzhen Open doubles title, defeating Chris Guccione and André Sá 6-1, 6-7(3-7), 10-6 in the final for Fleming's eighth ATP doubles crown.[45] This victory propelled him back into the top 50 in the ATP doubles rankings, reaching No. 41 by year's end after dipping outside the top 100 earlier.[46] Additional highlights included a third-round appearance at the US Open with Treat Huey, where they upset Australian Open champions Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini in the first round before losing in the third round to Leonardo Mayer and João Sousa.[47] By 2016, Fleming experienced fewer deep tournament runs, compiling a 20-24 doubles record amid shifting partners. A key focus was representing Great Britain in team events, including selection for the Rio Olympics alongside Dominic Inglot, though they suffered a first-round defeat to Santiago González and Miguel Ángel Reyes-Varela (6-3, 6-0).[48][49] He also supported Britain's Davis Cup defense as part of the broader squad, drawing on his prior contributions to the team's 2015 World Group triumph.[50] Fleming played his final professional tournaments in early 2017 before announcing his retirement on 16 January to assume the role of national coach for Tennis Scotland.[51] His farewell marked the end of a decade on the ATP Tour, transitioning from competition to development of Scottish tennis.[52]Career achievements
ATP doubles titles and finals
Colin Fleming won eight ATP doubles titles during his career, partnering primarily with fellow Britons Ken Skupski and Ross Hutchins, as well as international players like Bruno Soares, Rohan Bopanna, and Jonathan Erlich. These victories spanned ATP 250 events on hard and grass surfaces, contributing to his career-high doubles ranking of No. 17 in September 2013. His titles often came in indoor hard court tournaments during the European fall swing and outdoor hard court events in early season.[53] The following table lists Fleming's eight ATP doubles titles, including tournament details, surfaces, partners, opponents, and scores:| Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Open de Moselle (Metz) | Hard (i) | Ken Skupski | Arnaud Clément / Michaël Llodra | 2–6, 6–4, [10–5][25] |
| 2009 | St. Petersburg Open | Hard (i) | Ken Skupski | Philipp Kohlschreiber / Christopher Kas | 6–3, 6–4[27] |
| 2011 | St. Petersburg Open | Hard (i) | Ross Hutchins | Mikhail Elgin / Aleksandr Kudryavtsev | 6–3, 6–7(6), [10–5] |
| 2012 | Delray Beach Open | Hard | Ross Hutchins | Michal Mertiňák / André Sá | 2–6, 7–6(7), [10–8][54] |
| 2012 | Eastbourne International | Grass | Ross Hutchins | Jean-Julien Rojer / Horacio Zeballos | 6–7(5), 6–4, [10–5][55] |
| 2013 | Heineken Open (Auckland) | Hard | Bruno Soares | Johan Brunström / Jarkko Nieminen | 6–2, 6–7(4), [10–5][56] |
| 2013 | Open 13 (Marseille) | Hard (i) | Rohan Bopanna | Jean-Julien Rojer / Horia Tecău | 6–3, 6–4[40][57] |
| 2015 | Shenzhen Open | Hard | Jonathan Erlich | Vasek Pospisil / Donald Young | 6–3, 6–4[53] |
Grand Slam and major tournament results
Fleming's most notable achievements in men's doubles at Grand Slam tournaments came in 2011 and 2013, when he reached the quarterfinals three times. Partnering with compatriot Ross Hutchins, he advanced to the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2011, marking the first British pair to do so since 1960, before falling to Christopher Kas and Alexander Peya in five sets.[59] Later that year at the US Open, Fleming and Hutchins again reached the quarterfinals, defeating pairs such as Santiago Giraldo and Robert Farah en route, but lost to Daniel Nestor and Max Mirnyi.[60] In 2013, teaming with Jonathan Marray, Fleming secured another US Open quarterfinal appearance, upsetting higher seeds before a straight-sets defeat to the Bryan brothers.[61] In mixed doubles, Fleming's standout performance was at the 2012 Australian Open, where he partnered with Liezel Huber to reach the quarterfinals, defeating teams including Raquel Kops-Jones and Eric Butorac before losing to Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi 7–6(7–5), 6–4.[36] This result highlighted his versatility in the discipline, though he did not advance as far in other Grand Slam mixed events. At Masters 1000 tournaments, Fleming's career highlight was reaching the doubles final at the 2013 Rogers Cup (Canadian Open) alongside Andy Murray, a surprising run that included a dominant 6-3, 6-0 semifinal victory over Daniel Nestor and Robert Lindstedt, but ended in a 6-4, 7-6 loss to Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares.[41] He also posted several round-of-16 appearances, such as at the 2011 Shanghai Masters with Hutchins and the 2012 Indian Wells Masters with Bruno Soares, demonstrating consistent competitiveness at the elite level. Fleming represented Great Britain in the Davis Cup from 2011 to 2015, contributing significantly to the team's promotion to the World Group in 2015. Key victories included a decisive doubles win with Hutchins against Hungary in 2011 to secure a 3-0 tie lead, and another with Marray over Austria in 2013 during a critical World Group play-off.[60][62] His eight consecutive doubles wins during this period were instrumental in Britain's resurgence.[63] Fleming competed in the 2012 London Olympics, partnering Hutchins in men's doubles and exiting in the first round against the Czech duo of Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek.[6] Earlier, at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, he won gold in mixed doubles with Jocelyn Rae, defeating Australia's Anastasia Rodionova and Paul Hanley 7-6, 6-7, 6-2 in the final.[64]| Tournament | Men's Doubles Best Result | Year(s) | Partner | Mixed Doubles Best Result | Year | Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | Round of 32 | 2011, 2012 | Ross Hutchins | Quarterfinals | 2012 | Liezel Huber |
| French Open | Round of 32 | 2011, 2013 | Ross Hutchins, Jonathan Marray | First Round | 2012 | Liezel Huber |
| Wimbledon | Quarterfinals | 2011 | Ross Hutchins | Quarterfinals | 2012 | Hsieh Su-wei |
| US Open | Quarterfinals | 2011, 2013 | Ross Hutchins, Jonathan Marray | Quarterfinals | 2012 | Sania Mirza |
Doubles Grand Slam Performance Timeline
Fleming's progress in men's doubles at the Grand Slam tournaments is outlined below, showing his best annual results. Results are abbreviated as follows: 1R (first round), 2R (second round), 3R (third round), QF (quarterfinal), SF (semifinal), F (final), W (winner); A (absent or did not play). Data is limited to verified appearances.| Year | Australian Open | French Open | Wimbledon | US Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | A | A | A | A |
| 2009 | A | A | 1R | A |
| 2010 | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R |
| 2011 | 1R | 2R | QF | QF |
| 2012 | 3R | 1R | 1R | 3R |
| 2013 | 1R | 1R | 3R | QF |
| 2014 | 2R | 1R | 2R | 3R |
| 2015 | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R |
| 2016 | A | 2R | A | A |
| 2017 | A | A | A | A |
ATP Masters 1000 and Finals Reached
Fleming reached one ATP Masters 1000 doubles final in his career, partnering Andy Murray to the title match at the 2013 Rogers Cup in Montreal, where they lost to Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares (6-4, 7-6).[71] He appeared in 19 ATP doubles finals overall, winning 8 between 2009 and 2015, including titles in Metz (2009), Marseille (2013), and Eastbourne (2012). Year-by-year finals reached include two in 2009, one in 2011, two in 2012, two in 2013, and one in 2015.[25][40]Mixed Doubles Grand Slam Performance Timeline
Fleming's mixed doubles results at Grand Slams were more sporadic, with his best performances in 2012 partnering Hsieh Su-wei, reaching quarterfinals at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. The table below summarizes verified appearances.| Year | Australian Open | French Open | Wimbledon | US Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | A | A | A | A |
| 2009 | A | A | A | A |
| 2010 | A | A | A | A |
| 2011 | 1R | A | 1R | A |
| 2012 | QF | 1R | QF | QF |
| 2013 | A | A | A | A |
| 2014 | A | A | A | A |
| 2015 | A | A | A | A |
| 2016 | A | A | A | A |
| 2017 | A | A | A | A |
Ranking Progression
Fleming achieved a career-high doubles ranking of No. 17 on September 9, 2013. His year-end doubles rankings are as follows.[24]| Year | Year-End Ranking |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 422 |
| 2009 | 56 |
| 2010 | 73 |
| 2011 | 33 |
| 2012 | 27 |
| 2013 | 27 |
| 2014 | 71 |
| 2015 | 58 |
| 2016 | 76 |
| 2017 | - |