Fleming and Hutchins on target for London

 

Originally published on: 05/03/12 12:29

Britain’s Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins are on course to reach their target for 2012 – a place in the doubles tournament at the year-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London.
 
The British pair rose to career-high spots in the world doubles rankings today (No.24 and No.27 respectively) after winning the title in Delray Beach yesterday. Just as importantly, they now sit in the last of the eight qualifying places for the climax to the year at the O2 Arena.
 
“Making the Masters at the end of year and being in the top eight is a huge goal for us,” Hutchins said. “We have been at that level and we want to continue our good form. We feel like it’s within our grasp. The Olympics and the Slams are also a huge motivation.”
 
Fleming and Hutchins claimed their second title together – and their first of this year – by beating Michal Mertinak and Andre Sa 2-6, 7-6, 15-13 in the final at Delray Beach after saving a match point.
 
The Britons teamed up together at the start of last year and are clearly a good combination. “We feel the way doubles is going now it’s a power game, more about big serves and returning aggressively,” Hutchins said. “Colin is an excellent returner. He’s solid round the net too and we feel our game style is suited to the top guys.”
 
Fleming added: “We have a good relationship, we get on well and have worked very hard to get where we are. We are honest with each other and if one of us isn’t doing something right the other one will say so. Sometimes that isn’t easy to do.”
 
Hutchins agreed that getting on well was important. “We are planning to have a long career together so you need to have a good relationship otherwise you get on to blaming terms which is something we will never get to,” he said.

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