Monday, 09/28/2009

METZ, France--Prominent LSU men’s tennis alumnus  Ken Skupski captured his first ATP World Tour Title in doubles with partner Colin Fleming on Sunday after the British duo knocked off Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra in a close match, 2-6, 6-4, 10-5.

 

The win over Clement and Llodra, two-time defending champions at Metz and the 2007 Wimbledon men’s doubles champions, is added to a list of top-50 doubles teams left in the wake of Skupski and Fleming.

 

At the AEGON Championships hosted at the Queen’s Club, Skupski and Fleming defeated then- top-ranked Bob and Mike Bryan in the second round of competition, and at Devonshire Park, the tandem defeated Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa in the opening round.

 

“Ken’s performance is not surprising to me,” LSU assistant coach Danny Bryan said. “I was on the team with him at LSU and he always wanted to take his game to the next level. With his drive and ambition, he did that at the collegiate level and continues the tradition playing with the pros.”

 

Skupski’s drive for excellence earned him a spot among the top 100 as he posted at No. 99 in the most recent ATP Individual Double Rankings released September 21, prior to his performance in Metz.

 

The former LSU standout and his partner checked in at No. 124 in team rankings, and with 250 points awarded for taking the doubles title at the Open de Moselle, the duo should see an immediate impact in the rankings released on Monday.

 

Open de Moselle

September 19-27

Metz, France

 

Doubles Main Draw

 

Ken Skupski/Colin Fleming (GBR) def. Arnaud Clement/Michael Llodra (FRA), 2-6, 6-4, 10-5