Colin picked up a tennis racquet as a toddler in the wake of his sister and brother at his local club in Linlithgow, Scotland where he grew up. He started playing mini tennis competitions at the age of 8, and moved on to local junior tournaments and club matches. He initially showed promise as a young junior and was selected to join performance squads in North of Scotland County at under 10 level, moving on to Scottish squads from 12 through his teenage years.
Colin’s story
Working his way up through the ranks Colin loved to compete, and regularly travelled long distances to play in regional challenge events and regional and GB junior tournaments. He was never at the top rank in the juniors, being small and slightly built until late teens, but held his own through court craft and determination. He also began his county career as a junior, representing North of Scotland, culminating in the great enjoyment he has in playing Summer County week and the camaraderie that he has with the North of Scotland players.
Colin left high school in 2001 at age 17 to study Economics & Finance at The University of Stirling as a sports bursar. The University offered him the opportunity to continue with his tennis training and competition as part of a high quality programme, otherwise he would have become a social player at that time. His tennis career was supported by the University when they enabled him to take two sabbatical years from 2004 to turn pro and join the tour, during which time he achieved career highs for singles and doubles in 2006. After selection in the Davis Cup squad for the match against Serbia and playing Wimbledon in 2006, Colin decided to quit the tour to return to Stirling in order to complete his University degree.
He graduated with First Class Honours in 2007 and secured a graduate scheme position as an energy trader where he worked for a year. With his hunger rekindled and his head set on making it in pro tennis, Colin decided to return to the tour in August 2008 and the rest is reported on these pages.
Profile
Name: Colin Alexander Fleming
Nicknames: Flembo
DOB: 13/08/1984
Hometown: Linlithgow, Scotland
Education: First Class Honours, BSc Economics & Finance, Stirling University
Height: 6ft 3inches
Weight: 76kg
Plays: Right handed – double handed backhand
Trains: Stirling University & NTC Roehampton
Favourite Surface: Hard Court
Coach: Louis Cayer (LTA) & Euan McGinn (University of Stirling)
