Barty is a former US Open doubles championwho likes to play doubles where possible
players are still going to be top players at the end of the day, no matter the result.” The challenge is to ensure that the world’s best play more regularly. Pam Shriver told The New York Times that the tours missed a trick by not heavily promoting doubles at the start of the open era, while Tracy Austin lamented the impact of the stark differences in prize money. “Martina used to win all three, including mixed doubles,” Austin told the newspaper. “Then the money changed and it was not worth the fatigue during a tournament and the wear and tear on your body for the top 10 to 15 singles players.” Nevertheless, some top players still compete in doubles. Barty has opted out in recent majors, but she is a former US Open doubles champion and likes to play doubles where possible. Barbora Krejcikova, the reigning Roland Garros champion in both singles and doubles, and Katerina Siniakova claimed this year’s Australian Open doubles crown. McNamee, who co-founded the Hopman Cup, is certain there is a strategy that could be deployed to ensure more singles players participate in doubles events. Towards the end of his time in charge of the Australian Open, he introduced a policy under which the sign-in for the doubles tournament was not closed until after the first round in singles had been completed. He explained: “I went to the players and said: ‘Unfortunately, half of you will lose in the first round, no matter how good a tennis player you are.’ The idea was that instead of those players going straight back to the US or to Europe, they could stay in Australia, enjoy the hospitality and potentially earn a decent cheque. That was the strongest doubles cut- off we ever had.” McNamee believes the rule would still work well in ATP and WTA tour events, or if something akin to a “two-match guarantee” for elite talent was put into place. Some spots would need to be reserved for specialist doubles combinations, but he is certain it would encourage more singles-oriented
players to compete. “When you have those stars at a tournament, you want your fans to be able to see themmore than once,” he said. As far back as 2013, the Bryan brothers expressed fear for the future of doubles. They said the tour needed a commissioner whose primary responsibility was to advocate for doubles. They were concerned that the introduction of a match tie-break to replace the third set had not led to greater opportunities for doubles players on stadium courts. “Obviously the ATP can do a better job,” Bob Bryan said. “We need a guy that we can talk to, who fights for doubles rights at all times. The whole thing about the shortened format was to get more doubles matches on centre court, but they are slowly starting to put less doubles players out there.” McNamee, who still has involvement in various administrative roles around the world, is clearly an advocate. Eric Butorac, who for years was the third-ranked American doubles player behind the Bryans, is also strengthening his administrative resume. He served as the ATP player council president between stints by Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic and was recently appointed the tournament director of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. He is clearly someone who is aware of the merits of doubles action. Meanwhile in Kyrgios doubles might have unearthed an unlikely ally, with the Australian planning to play alongside Kokkinakis at select events this year, including some Grand Slam tournaments. “My goal is to only bring new fans that may not be following tennis to watch tennis,” Kyrgios said. “If they flick on a match and they have Thanasi and I playing in an entertaining doubles match, they know nothing about tennis, if they watch that match just then, they probably would tune in next time. That’s what I’m about. That’s what I want to bring. I think that’s how the sport is going to survive.”
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