Britain's Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski Win Metz Doubles Title

Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski showed Britain's Davis Cup captain, John Lloyd, what he was missing last weekend as they won their first ATP Tour doubles title at the Open de Moselle in Metz today.

The Britons, who were overlooked by Lloyd in favor of Andy Murray and Ross Hutchins for the doubles in last week's 3-2 defeat by Poland, which sent Britain down to the third tier of the Davis Cup, beat the experienced Frenchmen Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clément 2-6, 6-4, 10-5.

Beating a pair who won Wimbledon in 2007 is a big enough achievement in itself, but the 250 ranking points earned will be of more immediate comfort to the British pair as they should rise to around 80th in the ATP world rankings tomorrow. One or two more sound performances and they will be assured of a place at the Australian Open in January and all the main tournaments thereafter.

Skupski said the criticism of Britain's defeat by Poland had been an important factor in their success.

"We've both looked at the coverage of the Davis Cup defeat and we've tried to turn it on its head," the Liverpudlian said. "This is a great result for British tennis and I know that Bally [Elena Baltacha] and Katie O'Brien have done really well this week as well."

Baltacha beat O'Brien to win an ITF event in Shrewsbury, a result that will see both women break into the top 100.

"Potentially we could have eight players in the top 100 come Monday," Skupski added, "and at the start of the week we only had four. We're doing everything we can to do well for British tennis, for ourselves and for the country as well."