Tennis: Scots players are best in UK and can grace world stage

Scottish men's tennis is on the crest of a wave with Andy Murray contesting grand slam titles and both Colin Fleming and Jamie Baker part of a British Davis Cup squad which is captained by Glaswegian Leon Smith.

And adding to the excitement are a rich crop of promising juniors, both male and female, who are ready to carry the baton while intermediate pair James McKie and Graeme Dyce, both from Edinburgh, complete studies on tennis scholarships in the USA and could yet emulate Fleming in playing his best tennis on a world stage with a university degree behind him.

Back on native courts recently Leon Smith, formerly of the Next Generation club, Newhaven, took time out to savour the tartan renaissance which has been further boosted by former Blackhall tennis club member Fleming enjoying success in capturing a Commonwealth Games mixed doubles gold medal last month in partnership with Anglo-Scot, Jocelyn Rae.

Said Smith: "To see Colin and Jocelyn claim the gold medal in Delhi was really encouraging as it helps build momentum developed by the exceptional Andy Murray.

"Their success adds to a winning reputation and culture which gets people interested.

"Colin adds a lot to the Davis Cup squad with his personality and while he is going to find it more difficult in his second year on the international circuit as opponents get to know his game style, there are a lot of good qualities which should see him have a strong 2011."

Watching from afar will be Dyce and McKie who attend, respectively, the University of Kentucky and Drake University, Iowa.

Says Smith: "There are players like Graeme and James who can get more involved in the men's game when they are more physically ready to make an assault on trying to get a career out of tennis.

"The college approach isn't for everyone as you need at least a bit of an academic background with regard to the discipline of studying. In the case of Graeme he has a junior slam win (2007 Australian boys doubles) behind him although he has had a couple of injuries since going out to the States.

"There's always time, nevertheless, for the likes of Graeme and James to hopefully go down the same positive route as Colin who has developed later. That is where you have to be patient and doubles is very different from singles where Andy Murray has been excelling."

One of the fastest rising Scottish youngsters is current national under-16 champion Jonny O'Mara, from Arbroath, who has won the British under-16 title with a year in hand though Smith, who tipped Andy Murray for junior stardom, is wary of comparisons with the world No.?4 senior at this stage.

"Andy was really exceptional but it is the case that Jonny is making good steady progress with a very good coach (Mark Walker) supported by Judy Murray."

Mention of coaches leads inevitably to Craiglockhart where the likes of Mhairi Brown and Alan Macdonald are based.

Brown was a Commonwealth Games contender in her own right who is Scotland No.?3 women player while Macdonald previously travelled with Jamie Murray (former Wimbledon mixed doubles champion).

The pair have overseen some outstanding talent emerge in the Capital while the national academy based at Merchiston Castle/St George's School is under the direction of Marcel du Coudray who was utilised as a hitting partner at Wimbledon this year by ATP Masters finals champion Nikolay Davydenko.

Among those to make a mark this year have been Euan McIntosh who was selected to represent East men in group two of the British inter-county championship aged 15. From the same Blackhall club comes Reuben Henry who took inspiration from competing successfully at the HSBC Road to Wimbledon tournament to win the Scottish grand prix final in his age group. At Wimbledon, Henry put on a dazzling show to top his qualifying group then won three further matches before losing out in three sets to top seed and eventual winner, Christopher Morrow.

Others boys making their mark include Scott Duncan, under-18 winner in both the Waverley and Barnton Park junior tournaments and Andy Melrose, a junior who is Waverley's senior club champion.

Smith adds: "I keep my finger on the pulse and am in regular contact with the Scottish coaches helped by Martin Weston (LTA junior tennis manager).

"It is important to have trust in the coaches who are around the players. The coaches are highly motivated even driven and the kids will feed off that."

Smith may now be a tennis high-flyer but it is apparent that he has certainly not forgotten his roots and that can only be good for the sport north of the border.