Tom Fleming

Tom Fleming was regarded as “The Father of Lawn Tennis” in the United Kingdom. As a player he was involved mostly in money matches, and in 1898 he engaged in a much-publicised match against Tom Burke at Queen’s Club. Burke won in five sets, and collected the £100 prizemoney. He did contest the professional singles and doubles (with Charles Hierons) at the 1900 Paris Olympics, and the pair finished third, out of three, losing their only match to the eventual champions Tom Burke and George Kerr.

Fleming’s reputation, however, was as a leading coach rather that a player. He had a vast knowledge and understanding of the game and that is why he joined Queen’s Club. He later worked at the Roehampton Cub, where his star pupil was Kitty McKane, the 1924 and 1926 Wimbledon champion, and triple medallist at the 1920 Antwerpen Olympics. Like many top professionals just before and after World War I, Fleming coached in France and was in charge of the tennis courts at the Hotel Bristol, Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the French Riviera between Nice and Monte Carlo. After the War he coached at the Nice Cub and also at the exclusive Beau Site Hotel in Cannes. Fleming also wrote syndicated articles on the game for various newspapers.