N ick Kyrgios had the master on Melbourne Park’s biggest courts throughout this year’s Australian Open, ably supported by his close friend, Thanasi Kokkinakis. Kyrgios cracked big serves on the court and one-liners off it as the Special Ks rode a wave of adulation to the doubles title at the season’s opening Grand Slam event. It was not the biggest story of an Australian Open that began with a firestorm involving Novak Djokovic and ended with phenomenal flourishes fromAshleigh Barty and Rafael capacity crowds eating out of his hand. The tennis showman played puppet Nadal, but the quality of the Special Ks’ tennis and their theatrics as a double act sparked greater than usual interest in the doubles. “I would say we’ve created probably the best atmosphere this tournament has ever seen,” Kyrgios said. The Specials Ks are not for everyone. Despite the many plaudits, they were criticised by foes on and off the court and were involved in a locker room confrontation with one rival trainer. However, the Kyrgios and Kokkinakis show certainly prompted discussion about the place of doubles within the sport. It is indisputable that singles draws the majority of attention and finances in professional tennis. Singles players sell tickets and draw eyeballs to matches played in prime time. However, it is also true that in recreational tennis doubles is the most played of the disciplines. The question has always been where it lies professionally. At the turn of the professional era, many of the great Australian champions, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert were all regular competitors in doubles. However, as the singles purses skyrocketed, the superstars realigned their interests. The Williams sisters enjoyed some success together and the Bryan brothers were brilliant for the discipline, but
‘One good thing about the new
it became rarer to see the legends in doubles, other than in Davis and Billie Jean King (Fed) Cup ties or at special tournaments such as Indian Wells. At different stages there have been fears for the future of doubles on the tour. Nevertheless, there are some who believe the tide is turning, in part because there is greater variety in the discipline but also because tinkering with the formats has added to the excitement. Paul McNamee, a former world No 1 in doubles and twice a Wimbledon doubles champion, bemoans what has become of the Davis Cup, but believes there is one positive to come from the new format and that of the ATP Cup. The doubles rubber, which is played as the third and final match in a tie, can often decide the outcome. That has added to its importance and has also led to the game’s best men sometimes stepping out to play doubles. “For all the bad things with the new Davis Cup format, the one good thing is that it dragged doubles out of the graveyard,” McNamee said. “When the top guys start playing doubles, it is incredibly interesting, particularly when they stand at the baseline and start ripping it. The best matches will pit the new style of doubles versus the old- school doubles combinations, who do their best work at the net.” When McNamee and Peter McNamara were winning Grand Slam doubles titles, serve-and-volley was the way of life. However, just as improvements in racket technology and the slowing down of court speeds have changed the dynamics in singles, so there has been an evolution in doubles. Adeptness at the net is still critical, but the ball is blasted on return more and players like Jack Sock are just as happy to stand at the baseline clubbing forehands. “Nick and Thanasi proved that good singles players have the ability to beat very good doubles players if they are switched on and firing,” McNamee said. “Good singles
Davis Cup format is that it has helped to pull doubles out of the graveyard’
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