FORMER Wimbledon doubles champion Peter Fleming believes Hampshire's Josh Goodall has what it takes to make his mark on the world tennis scene.

American Fleming, who famously partnered John McEnroe to Wimbledon doubles glory on four occasions, is an adviser to the Lawn Tennis Association and has told Goodall he is blessed with the talent to make the world's top 50.

Basingstoke's Goodall, right, reached the last 16 of Junior Wimbledon last year and will be hoping to improve on that display when he starts out in the same competition later this week.

The 17-year-old is now playing and training full-time and will be keen to get back on grass after a difficult clay-court season and a narrow defeat in the first round of the Junior French Open.

Dad Gary said: "His confidence is a bit low as he struggled on the clay in the French Open and also at the Italian and Belgian junior events. His game is more suited to the faster surfaces.

"He plays mostly from the base-line but is a good volleyer. He has been working with Peter Fleming and he has said he has the ability to make it."

Only last week Fleming and Goodall were practising together at Wimbledon, with Andre Agassi working out on an adjacent court.

Gary added: "Peter obviously knew Agassi and asked him to have a look at Josh's game and he gave him a few tips.

"Agassi is very big on fitness and he told Josh how important it was to work on his abdominal muscles as a basis for his physical training."

Goodall took up tennis at the age of four when his family were living in Western Australia and they moved to England when he was nine.

Last year he reached the last four of the under-18 national championships in Nottingham and he is currently fourth in the national ratings in his age group.

Goodall, who is still based at Basingstoke's Centre Court club, is also ranked in the top 50 juniors in the world, with a highest position of number 30.

Last summer Goodall helped the Hampshire men's tennis team keep their position in the national Group One division with an impressive series of victories.