WIMBLEDON, England – Former LSU tennis standout Ken Skupski and doubles partner Colin Fleming will compete in the gentleman’s doubles main draw of the Wimbledon Championships, which began Monday at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
The United Kingdom pair will face off against France’s Arnaud Clement and Nicolas Mahut in the first round.
Mahut was on the losing end of in the longest match in open-era tennis which ended Thursday on its third day. Mahut lost to former University of Georgia player John Isner in five sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68. The match started Tuesday and was twice suspended by darkness before being completed in a total of 11 hours and 5 minutes.
The first round doubles match has been set for court 18 — the same court as Mahut’s singles match loss — and will start approximately 2 p.m. CT (8 p.m. in England).
Skupski, ranked No. 45 in the latest ATP individual doubles rankings released on June 21, is making his third straight appearance at Wimbledon. The international ranking is the highest ever for a former LSU player, passing LSU head coach Jeff Brown who was ranked 47th in March 1991.
“I am very proud of Ken’s success,” said Brown. “I wish him nothing but the best at Wimbledon.”
The grass courts tournament, which is the third Grand Slam event of the year, runs from June 21 through July 4.
Skupski will also team with Elena Baltacha in the mixed doubles draw, where they will face Michal Mertinak and Andrea Hlavackova in the first round at a time to be determined.
Skupski and Fleming have advanced to the second round in their last two Grand Slam appearances, the French Open and the Australian Open earlier this year.
Skupski left LSU as one of the most decorated players in school history and is the second LSU player coached by Brown to play at Wimbledon. Former LSU tennis player Dan Kiernan competed in doubles in 2004 and 2005. Brown squared off at Wimbledon twice, advancing to the round of 16 in 1991.
2010 Wimbledon Championships
June 21 – July 4
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Gentleman’s Doubles
First Round
Colin Fleming (GBR)/Ken Skupski (GBR) vs. Arnaud Clement (FRA)/Nicolas Mahut (FRA), TBD