Court 3 is the place to be this weekend. The place is packed – and we are not talking about the stands. For two full days, Court 3 will be the scene of the doubles extravaganza that is “Doubles Down Under” as Australian Open 2019 shines the brightest of spotlights on the doubles draws.
At most events around the world, even the doubles specialists would admit that their brand of the sport tends to take second billing to the singles boys – and yet it is the version of the game that most of us play. But not at Melbourne Park, where everyone shouts their love for the team game loud and proud.
MORE: AO2019 men’s doubles results
But even if the headline writers focus their attention on the singles players, the experienced tennis watcher with a ground pass knows that the thrill factor and excitement in the average doubles match knocks singles into a cocked hat. Four hours and five sets of baseline battling, maybe a marvellous display of physical stamina and tactical nous, but it doesn’t always stand up to the quick-fire, rat-a-tat-tat net play of the doubles lads and lasses. If you want a thrill-a-minute, the doubles court is the place to be.
In order to introduce the world to this wealth of doubles talent, AO2019 is showcasing the players in a new way. Interviewed as the walk on court, the aim is to get the crowd to engage with the characters as they get to work. Alas, not every player has English as a first language and the chap – he shall remain nameless – who sounded surprised that the sun was shining (this is Australia in the height of summer. Where is the surprise?) seemed to have misunderstood the question put to him: “What do you think of the upcoming match?” But he tried, bless him. And the crowd was lapping it up.
Then there are the team names. The super teams of the past had their monikers – Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge were the Woodies; Paul McNamee and Peter McNamara were the Super Macs – so now the teams of today are being encouraged to come up with names for themselves. For example, Belinda Bencic and Roger Federer at the Hopman Cup were known as Benderer – although, upon reflection, that may or may not have been a good idea. But you get the general idea.
MORE: AO2019 women’s doubles results
So there we all were, watching the world’s best do their thing. Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares (Mures? Or Soarray? Nope, that’s not going to work), the champions of 2016, got us off and running. They moved into the third round with a 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 win over the Pommie pair of Luke Bambridge and Jonny O’Mara (Bamra? No. Maridge? Definitely not) even if they did drop the opening set.
As members of the ATP Player Council, both Murray and Soares have worked long and hard to promote the doubles cause.
“It's a totally different skill set to singles,” Jamie explained. “I think the doubles game has a lot of fans. Your average tennis player that goes down to their club or park to play, they're playing doubles with their friends. They can relate to it more.
“I think compared to watching Federer or Serena or people like that, they can relate more to what's going on on the doubles court.
“It's fun. It's more social. I think tennis as a sport can do a better job to promote that side of it. I think we have a lot of fans that come out and support us, our matches, they really appreciate that.
“I think things have improved a lot in doubles the last few years. But we need to keep pushing for more, keep kind of showcasing it as a great part of tennis, not just kind of like the sort of ugly stepsister for singles, if you like.”
In 2019, Murray is chasing the mixed doubles title with Bethanie Mattek-Sands. As a scratch pair, they won the US Open mixed doubles title last year and realised instantly that their personalities gelled and their games clicked. This was a partnership made to last. Mattek-Sands, too, wants to see doubles in the limelight at the big events.
MORE: AO2019 mixed doubles results
“Doubles is really exciting,” she said. “I don't like even comparing it to singles. I get asked a lot of times which one I like better. I think they're two completely different games. You have some singles that play doubles, but you have doubles players that can beat singles players when they're playing doubles.
“It's a different strategy. I think the fact you're out there with a teammate is a different dynamic. When you see doubles live, you see how fast it is. Everyone kind of talking about strategy, shifting and adjusting. I think it's a little bit more apparent in doubles.”
And it will be apparent all over again on Sunday when Doubles Down Under takes over Court 3 for a double helping of doubles in the spotlight.