COLIN FLEMING enjoyed one of his best days on the doubles court in some time yesterday as he and partner Treat Huey of the Philippines upset the No.5 seeds Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli of Italy to reach the second round of the doubles here at the US Open.
The scratch pairing held their nerve in the final-set tiebreak as they came from 4-2 down, saving a match point before winning it 8-6 to complete a 6-1, 6-7, 7-6 victory that has to rank pretty highly in his career wins.
“Ross [Hutchins] and I beat [Daniel] Nestor and [Max] Mirnyi here when they were No.2 seeds, so that’s probably the best one but it’s got to be up there, right up there,” Fleming said.
“In terms of an on-form team – these guys won the Australian Open this year, the last hard court slam – we’ve knocked them out, and continued the giant-killing in the doubles draw.”
The giant-killing was begun by Britain’s Dom Inglot and Robert Lindstedt of Sweden on Wednesday as they beat the No.2 seeds, Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo, in round one.
Three weeks ago, Fleming didn’t even know who he would be playing with after Eric Butorac, with whom he had partnered in the grass season, announced he would be teaming up with another American, Scott Lipsky.
A quick conversation “on Whatsapp” sorted that one out and Fleming and Huey looked like a good team as they joined Inglot and Lindstedt and Jamie Murray and John Peers in round two.
After missing two match points at 5-4 in the deciding set, they trailed 4-2 before an incredible point got the mini break back.
A good serve from Fleming saved the match point at 6-5 and they won the next two points as well to complete a superb victory.
“Maybe because we’re a scratch partnership, we’ve not got as much pressure on us,” he said. “So when the tiebreak started, we just said, let’s just enjoy it and really go for it and that’s what made the difference.”
With the world No.1 pair of Bob and Mike Bryan also beaten in round one, the tournament is already wide open and Fleming said there was no reason they can’t go further.
“The tennis we played in the first set, if we can reproduce that, then we’re going to be a tough team to play against. But let’s see what happens.”
There was more doubles joy for Britain as Laura Robson teamed up with Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens to beat Americans Madison Keys and Lisa Raymond 6-2, 6-4.
Still in the early throes of her comeback after 18 months out a wrist injury, Robson is lacking in confidence but the way she served out for victory yesterday will be a nice boost.
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