Men’s doubles Dismay twice over for Fleming

A DAY of disappointment for Colin Fleming saw the 30-year-old from Linlithgow eliminated from both the men’s and mixed doubles, writes

Stuart Bathgate.

Fleming and his American partner Eric Butorac were no match for the No.3 seeds and reigning champions Jack Sock and Vasek Pospisil in the second round of the men’s event, going down 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).

His fortunes didn’t pick up later on when he and Jocelyn Rae – Scotland’s Commonwealth Gold medal-winning mixed doubles pairing from Delhi in 2010 – lost 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1 to the Croatians Marin Draganja and Ana Konjuh.

“Jocelyn and I haven’t played since Wimbledon last year so we can’t be too disappointed with our level,” said Fleming after his dual ordeal, which is unlikely to assist his chances of selection for Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie with France at Queen’s Club in a fortnight’s time.

“I was quite glad to be was playing again today because I wanted to put a few things right after the way the men’s doubles went. Physically I was fine, because that match wasn’t too strenuous, unfortunately. We made it too easy for them.”

Today, however, could be a new beginning for Scottish tennis, with Ali Collins, the 15-year-old from Dunblane, appearing for the first time at Wimbledon after being handed a wildcard. With the Murray family currently facing a challenge to fund her development away from Britain, she faces highly rated Sofya Zhuk of Russia first on Court No.16.

“I took her to Eastbourne as the fifth player in the junior grand slam matches against France,” Judy Murray said. “She got a real buzz from being part of that team environment. If we can put the right things around her she has excellent potential.”

Collins is one of four Scots entered into the junior competitions. Maia Lumsden, 17, from Bearsden, who has been practising under the watchful eye of Nick Bolletieri at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, is the only one who qualifies by right, but she has no easy task, facing the No.3 seed, Dalma Gafia of Hungary.

Fellow 17-year-old Anna Brogan, of Glasgow, is up against the Czech No.1 seed, Marketa Vandrousova. In the boys’ event, Ewan Moore from Ayrshire faces No.6 seed Marcelo Barrios Vera of Chile.