Tennis: Pat Cash backing Fleming and Skupski for Davis Cup fame

FORMER Wimbledon champion Pat Cash insists Britain's future in the Davis Cup hinges on the form of Linlithgow's Colin Fleming and doubles partner Ken Skupski.

The 25-year-old Scot and Skupski have been installed as the squad's No.1 pair by skipper John Lloyd ahead of this weekend's opening Europe/Africa Zone Group Two clash in Lithuania.

With Andy Murray taking a leave of absence from the competition following Britain's drop into the game's doldrums in September, Lloyd's remaining squad have yet to win a Davis Cup clash between them.

But Cash, who became the youngest Davis Cup finalist in 1983, insists Fleming and Skupski can provide the perfect platform for Britain's rebuilding project.

"The doubles is crucial in Davis Cup, it is often what the tie is decided on so I think Britain would really like Colin and Ken to become a settled Davis Cup pair," said 1987 Wimbledon winner, Cash, who is supporting the Barclays Ball Kids initiative. "If you can uncover that solid doubles team then you have a great platform to build your tie on.

"The singles matches are often very close and it is very common for them to be level so the doubles is often the tiebreaker. Andy Murray isn't there but you can't win a Davis Cup with just one guy, no matter how good they are.

"But if you can assemble a squad of one world-class player, two guys in the top 50 and a good doubles outfit then you have a real chance. They're very good kids, Ken and Colin and they're good players as well so I really hope they can do well. They have had some good results lately and in a way GB being relegated has probably helped them.

"They're in at a level now where they can win and get themselves established and then they can help move GB back up."

After beginning 2009 outside the world's top 200, Fleming and Skupski enjoyed a remarkable rise up the rankings – claiming two ATP tour titles on the way.

And Cash has called on the duo, who occupy 41st place in the world ahead of the trip to Lithuania, to use their Davis Cup experience as fuel for their rise.

"I think the experience will help them when they go back on the circuit," added Cash. "It's all about soaking up experience but also about becoming a winning outfit."

FORMER Wimbledon champion Pat Cash is supporting the Barclays Ball Kids initiative, a national search to find 30 youngsters to be Ball Kids at the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in November. For more info visit www.barclaysballkids.com