WIMBLEDON, England – Former LSU tennis star Ken Skupski and doubles partner Colin Fleming advanced to the second round of the Wimbledon Championships after they defeated France’s Arnaud Clement and Nicolas Mahut, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Saturday.
The British pair won the first set of the match on Thursday before play was suspended for darkness. On Saturday Skupski and Fleming picked up right where they left off, stealing the first game of the second set. They then held serve to take the set 6-4 and grab a commanding two sets to none lead.
Clement and Mahut battled back to win the third set 6-3 to extend the match, but the United Kingdom duo proved to be too much, winning the hard-fought fourth set 7-6 (4) to capture the victory and earn the second round birth.
The twosome will face brothers Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States in the second round. The match time has yet to be determined.
The Bryan brothers won the Wimbledon doubles title in 2006, and finished runner-up at Wimbledon three times in 2005, 2007 and 2009.
Skupski and Fleming defeated the Bryans at a tournament in London, England in 2009, but fell to them at a tournament earlier this year in San Jose, Calif.
With the win, Skupski and Fleming have advanced to the second round in their last three Grand Slam appearances.
2010 Wimbledon Championships
June 21 – July 4
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Gentlemen’s Doubles
First Round
June 26, 2010
Colin Fleming (GBR)/Ken Skupski (GBR) def. Arnaud Clement (FRA)/Nicolas Mahut(FRA), 7-6 (4), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4)
Second Round
Colin Fleming (GBR)/Ken Skupski (GBR) vs. Bob Bryan (USA)/Mike Bryan (USA), TBD