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Fleming wins 1st satellite titleFrom August 2005:
Linlithgow tennis player Colin Fleming, finalist last week at Ilkley, the first leg of a four week satellite, won his first title in week two at Wrexham today (Sat 6 Aug).
A wild card, 20 year Fleming upset three seeded players, including tournament No.1 Joshua Goodall from England before putting out the third seed, Alun Jones from Australia 6-4 6-3 in today’s final.
Unlike the majority of his talented contemporaries who have chosen to base themselves at training squads in England and overseas, Fleming, a member of the Central Institute of Sport based at Stirling, is thought to be the first full time Scottish-based competitor to win an event at this level.
"I’ve been playing really well," said Fleming. "I haven’t been expecting too much of myself coming into it because I was a little bit injured and a little bit sick as well, so I’ve been really relaxed and playing quite well because of it.
"I knew I was capable of beating the players I have beaten but to do it all at once was a bit of a surprise to me. I’m happy to do it so hopefully I can keep it going.
"I’ll be No.1 see on the Satellite next week (Cumberland Club, London) and a bit of pressure will come with that but if I keep playing like I have been I should be OK."
Fleming is nearing the end of a gap year from Economics and Finance at Stirling University. In opting for Stirling University’s Tennis Scholarship Programme two and half year ago, Fleming has access to top level coaching combined with the support services of the Central Institute of Sport.
"At Stirling, there’s everything you would need to play full time sport. We’ve got a nutritionist, strength and conditioning coaches, psychologists, and good players for me to practice with. My coach Euan McGinn has helped me a lot, he’s a great coach, and I get to stay at home which is where I am happiest.
"It just shows that if you want to play and you want to stay in Scotland then it can be done."
Conscious of the new term looming, Fleming has just a handful of weeks to decide on whether to extend his gap year or return to university. Either way he has decided on continuing his tennis education in Scotland.
"It’s always been Scotland for me," he said. "I’ve never considered an option apart from Scotland for tennis and I’ve always believed it was possible to keep improving here."
"I’ll concentrate on finishing this satellite first and I have to decide in the next few week whether I stay full time or go back to studying and playing part time.
Coach, Euan McGinn believes Fleming is Scotland’s first Scottish-based tennis player to win a final at this level.
"This is a fantastic achievement for Colin and as far as I’m aware he’s the first home based person who has won a final of a Satellite event.
"At Stirling we run a programme for all of our players which full time players don’t get elsewhere. It just shows what people can achieve staying where they are in Scotland."
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