Dreaming About Doubles

Any professional tennis player will tell you that selecting the perfect doubles partner requires a lot of scouting and deliberation.

I recently discovered that picking a dream doubles partner is not much easier.

A few weeks ago, you shared your dream partners during an edition of Open Forum Friday, and now it’s my turn to look at the players I would pick based on the Grand Slam surface.

Australian Open

Although Tennis Australia recently switched from Rebound Ace, the new courts at Melbourne Park are still sticky and not as fast as some would wish. The heat, combined with the rubbery surface presents a difficult challenge that often proves harder than the opponents across the net.

Jelena Jankovic - Fitness and stamina matters most in Australia, perhaps more so than anywhere else on Tour. After a long off-season, the players are still trying to shake off rust and get back in shape. Jankovic plays a fuller schedule than most of her peers, giving her an edge when it comes to Australian preparations.

Svetlana Kuznetsova - I prefer to hang around the net when playing doubles, so when selecting a dream partner, I want someone who is willing to chase down balls behind my back. Born into a family of cyclists, Svetlana Kuznetsova has legs of steel. She is one of the most agile players on Tour and constantly forces her opponents to return shots which would have been outright winners against most players.

Roland Garros

Although a surprise winner does triumph every now and then, the French Open is for diehard clay court specialists. Many players find the slip-and-slide surface hurtful to their games, not to mention their bodies, making Roland Garros one of the most difficult titles to win in tennis.

Justine Henin - She may be the No. 1 player in the world, the best clay courter since Monica Seles, and a four-time Roland Garros champ, but I still feel like I’m taking a bit of a chance by choosing Henin. Singles is most assuredly her game, and Henin has not given us much of a chance to see her doubles prowess. The last time Henin played doubles outside Fed Cup was at the Australian Open in 2003.

Nadia Petrova - One of the Tour’s best to never win a major, I’ve long felt that Petrova’s best chance for glory would be Roland Garros. Her mental weakness has kept her from a major in singles, but in the team atmosphere of doubles, Petrova can battle her mental demons better. She is a superb clay court player and at one point was second only to Henin. Unlike Justine, Petrova has dedicated herself to doubles and has won twelve career titles, including three on clay.

Wimbledon

If I had a choice of winning one Grand Slam title in doubles, the Championships would be at the top of the list. Over the years, the winner’s list has read like a who’s who in tennis. Martina Hingis, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Chris Evert, Margaret Court, and Billie Jean King are just a few of the legendary women who have found doubles glory at Wimbledon.

Venus Williams - Counting singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, Venus Williams has seven Wimbledon trophies to her credit. Who would not want a chance to play a match with her on grass? Venus is an excellent volleyer, and although she has an all-court game, Wimbledon just seems to bring out her best tennis.

Althea Gibson - My generation owes much to Althea Gibson and fortunately, due to the combined efforts of the USTA and Gibson’s friend and doubles partner, Angela Buxton, her memory has not been forgotten. Her win with Buxton in 1956 marked the first time an African-American won a title at Wimbledon. Her influence, skill, and determination paved the way for a new generation of players, including twelve-time Wimbledon champions Venus and Serena Williams.

US Open

The US Open’s unique feel, noise, and crowds give it a special distinction all its own. If I had a chance to play doubles at my nation’s Grand Slam, I’d choose to play with one of America’s most under-appreciated champions.

Lindsay Davenport - I mentioned earlier that I want a partner who can look after my back, and nothing would give me more confidence than knowing that Lindsay Davenport was patrolling the baseline. Even after the birth of her first son, Davenport’s groundstrokes are still among the best in tennis, giving her a significant edge while playing on hard courts. Davenport is no stranger to playing doubles at Flushing Meadows, having won the 1997 title with Jana Novotna.

Jennifer Capriati - It has been a long time since Jennifer Capriati set a foot on the courts at the US Open, yet she still dreams of making a comeback. Realistically, her best days are over after having multiple surgeries, yet she still could return and play a few doubles matches. Although her career was cut short by a shoulder injury, Capriati won fourteen singles titles and one lone doubles title. Still, she knew how to pick a good partner and won Rome in 1991 with none other than Monica Seles.

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