Marling: Jonny Marray and Colin Fleming teaming up!

[Sallydaisy]

As we all know Colin Fleming's regular doubles partner, Ross Hutchins, is off the tour whilst he battles Hodgkins Lymphoma. And our top ranked doubles player, Jonny Marray, has lost his Grand Slam partner Freddie Nielsen who wants to concentrate on singles.

So the British #1 and #2 doubles players have teamed up (albeit until Ross is back in action) which is good news as they already know each other and their combined rankings will ensure they can get into ALL the ATP Tour events they want including the Masters and Grand Slams.

Report here in The Star (http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/other-sports/tennis-jonny-marray-and-colin-fleming-join-forces-1-5341728)


Marray told The Star: “I’ll be playing with Colin now. Obviously it isn’t the ideal circumstances for it to happen because of Ross’s illness but we’ve talked about it and it makes sense to team up.
“Both Colin and Ross are good friends of mine.”

Marray is ranked 18th in the world and Fleming, aged 28, 26th. By partnering each other the pair will be able to play in all ATP events, including the Masters Series, and the Grand Slams.

[patmoren]

That sounds like a really good idea and I was hoping it would happen. If they jell could make the WTF, they are good enough and both hard workers.

[Sallydaisy]

I think it's really sensible. Jonny keeps his Wimbledon points until end June so until then they've chance to try and notch up a few titles and rake in points so that both of them can stay in the 20's-40's at the very least.

And, as you say, try to get through to the World Tour Finals in London 2013.

There will be people who had hoped one of the two would hook up with Jamie Murray.
However, the differential in his ranking to either of theirs would have meant missing out on places at 500's and Masters events which are vital to earn more points and stay at the top.

If and when Ross comes back he'll be on a protected ranking so if Colin can keep up in the 20's or higher they could resume their partnership without dropping too far down. At that point Jonny might have to find someone else but if he can stay high in the rankings I'm sure he'd get another good partner without difficulty. Lots of water to go under the bridge first ...

The good news is, that by making this decision now, they've time to work together as a team over the next 6/7 weeks and including at Indian Wells and Miami. That almost certainly will make them a shoe-in as our doubles pair at Davis Cup in April and Jonny deffo deserves to be there and cheered on court as a reigning Grand Slam Champion.

[hfwardhouse]

Great idea :cheer:

[RoastLamb]

I thought Marling was the name of a Challenger tournament or summat. D'oh! Hope they work out well together.

[JAMES4578]

Certainly makes semse and a good decision, let's go Marling!

[Sallydaisy]

I thought Marling was the name of a Challenger tournament or summat. D'oh! .
:lol:

I wasn't sure what to do but the thread for Fleming/Hutchins is called Flemchins so, erm,
that's how Marling came about.
:getcoat:

[Linda]

It sounds like :beer: to me

[Jan62]

That's great news, sounds like a good solution for both of them for this year. Hope they can gel quickly - would be ideal to have them as the doubles pairing for Davis Cup. Any idea what their first tournament will be?

[pabbers]

Great news and hopefully for DC too. Might make it worth Andy's while to play if there's a real chance of promotion.

[Sallydaisy]

Any idea what their first tournament will be?Not yet. Colin came back to the UK last week,not sure where Jonny is. Having decided to team up for a while, in 2013, they're probably working out a schedule that incorporates the Masters and some 500's and 250's.

They're not on the Entry Lists for any of the 3 ATP250's for W/c 4th February or going forward. However, doubles works differently to singles and I'd expect them to play together somewhere from that week on. Doubles Entry Lists are only published a couple of weeks ahead of the event start date so they've plenty of time to put their names down for upcoming events from 11/2/13.

Each Doubles Entry List allows for Direct Acceptances (DA's), a couple of Wildcards (WC's) and also a number of place, usually 4, which are "on-site" (OS) entries. This means that, with their ranking, as long as they turn up on time for the sign in they'd easily get into any event starting 4th February. See this thread (http://www.andymurrayfanforum.com/forums/showthread.php?1686-MONTPELIER-2013-ATP250-4-10-Feb.-**DOUBLES**-Main-thread-info-and-entry-lists&p=120892&viewfull=1#post120892) in Jamie's Joint as an example of how the Entry List works.

[Sallydaisy]

We know now ... Marling are headed to Montpelier w/c 4th Feb.

Colin Fleming ‏@colin_fleming (https://twitter.com/colin_fleming) Excited to say I'm going to be teaming up on court with Jonny Marray.
Our first event will be Montpellier a week on Monday. #serveandjonny (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23serveandjonny&src=hash)



Colin has hashtagged them as serveandjonny ... so perhaps I should change the thread title?
Apart from anything else my word linking is up the spout and it ought to be Marming which sounds like a Marmite derivation.
http://smilies.gfxlovers.com/imgs/confused/confused002_2.gif

[DrewZiph]

i wondered if this would happen. makes perfect sense hope it works out well

[Sallydaisy]

News of where the lads are headed over the next few weeks leading up to Indian Wells and Miami in March.


Colin Fleming ‏@colin_fleming (https://twitter.com/colin_fleming) Off on my travels again today for busy couple months.
Training in London this week then Montpellier, Rotterdam, Memphis, Delray Beach...

[david1610]

Yes on reflection, good all round and if it keeps them highly ranked, it also helps Marray's stock in terms of getting a top doubles partner in the future as he will be seen to not just be a "one tournament wonder".
And, very important, comforting for Ross!