Come up, ‘Serandy’! Serena, Murray pairing places all eyes on combined doubles
LONDON — If you consider the nice duos in historical past, a number of in all probability come to thoughts: Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Batman and Robin, peanut butter and jelly, Thelma and Louise, Kenan and Kel. Your listing could differ barely, however you get the thought.
2 Associated
And beginning this fortnight, if issues reside as much as even a small proportion of the expectations, we’ll be capable to add one other pairing to this esteemed listing:
Serena Williams and Andy Murray.
OK, maybe we’re overhyping this barely, however it’s arduous to assume this new partnership does not at the least have the potential for greatness. After days of Ross-and-Rachel, “will they or will not they?” hypothesis, the 2 confirmed they might be taking part in collectively on Tuesday evening — and the curiosity within the Wimbledon combined doubles occasion has arguably by no means been larger.
“It is good,” mentioned Heather Watson, who gained the 2016 title with associate Henri Kontinen, and is again within the draw with him once more this 12 months. “It is nice that [Andy is] taking part in, on the whole. That is so constructive for the sport. I believe it is going to be actually thrilling to observe him play with Serena.”
It is not precisely unprecedented for big-name singles gamers to take part in combined doubles — final 12 months noticed the likes of Victoria Azarenka, Sloane Stephens and Jack Sock — and there are some legendary winners within the occasion’s historical past, together with Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King and Tracy Austin. Nonetheless, it’s uncommon to have two gamers of Williams and Murray’s caliber play collectively.
Murray, for his half, isn’t taking part in singles this 12 months. He solely made his return to competitors final month at Queens after a five-month absence following hip surgical procedure. He wasn’t certain if he would ever play once more because of the excessive ache he was experiencing previous to the surgical procedure, and a tearful press convention forward of the Australian Open in January appeared to be an finish level, relatively than a brand new starting. Now, although, he’s easing himself again by specializing in doubles solely at this level. He gained the boys’s doubles title in his first match again with Feliciano Lopez, and is teaming up with Pierre-Hugues Herbert in that occasion on the All England Membership.
Herbert, who has gained a profession Grand Slam in doubles and is not precisely a slouch, mentioned earlier this week he is by no means felt extra strain than whereas taking part in with Murray. The 32-year-old Scot, as you in all probability know, is as revered of a determine as they arrive at Wimbledon, having ended the 77-year-long singles drought for British male gamers in 2013. When he introduced he hoped to play within the combined doubles occasion however was having hassle securing a associate, a close to frenzy broke out on Twitter in response. Everybody from Billie Jean King to Maria Sharapova to his personal grandmother supplied their companies.
However Murray stayed coy on his plans, and potential associate. Though many, many others have been apparently considering teaming up with him.
“Properly, Andy Murray did not ask me to play,” mentioned a joking Azarenka, who misplaced within the 2018 finals with Murray’s brother Jamie. “Form of pissed about that.”
However one can hardly blame him for choosing Williams. She is broadly thought-about among the finest to ever play the sport, and has 23 Grand Slam singles titles, together with seven at Wimbledon. She’s as large of a celebrity as tennis has. To not point out, she gained the 1998 combined doubles occasion with Max Mirnyi, in addition to the US Open title the identical 12 months.
Murray has by no means gained a combined doubles title, however did take house the silver medal with associate Laura Robson throughout the 2012 Olympics, performed on the All England Membership.
The partnership, which some are calling “Serandy,” is shaping as much as be the most important story of the match. And in a 12 months the place there isn’t a scarcity of compelling stars (see: Gauff, Coco) and dramatic early matchups (hey, Rafael Nadal vs. Nick Kyrgios), that is saying one thing.
“[I] hope they put them on Centre Court docket as a result of everybody goes to observe it,” mentioned Simona Halep.
2:09
ESPN’s Darren Cahill and Pam Shriver react to the information Serena Williams and Andy Murray might be combining their skills on the combined doubles courtroom.
Combined doubles is a fixture at Grand Slams, however not performed at some other WTA or ATP occasion, and it usually receives little fanfare. And it is not precisely the place the cash is, both. The successful pair will obtain £116,000 (roughly $146,000) — in comparison with £2.35 million (round $2.9m) for the person singles winners. It is incessantly relegated to small, outer courts and receives restricted, if any, tv publicity till the ultimate.
Nonetheless, whereas the comparatively small payday stays, this 12 months’s occasion is not going to be typical in some other manner.
“I believe this would be the most talked-about combined doubles draw within the historical past of tennis,” mentioned Pam Shriver, a 21-time Grand Slam doubles champion and winner of the 1987 French Open combined doubles title, in addition to a present ESPN analyst. “It is going to be unbelievable. I am simply imagining the ovation for each of them on one of many large courts, the place they’re going to undoubtedly be taking part in, and it will be magic.
“They each are making main comebacks, and between Murray being the one to finish the [British men’s singles] drought right here, and Serena and her quest to interrupt Margaret Court docket’s document [of 24 Grand Slam singles titles], the gang goes to like them. I believe Serena goes to really feel the gang on her aspect greater than she’s ever skilled. I do not assume we’ll ever see something like this once more.”
Along with the “Serandy” pairing, a number of different large names are becoming a member of forces, most notably Venus Williams with Frances Tiafoe and Jamie Murray with Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Nick Kyrgios can be within the draw, paired with Desirae Krawczyk. If the unseeded Serena and Andy group have been to make a run, they might doubtlessly face Venus and Tiafoe within the semifinals, and Jamie and Mattek-Sands within the last.
“I believe they might find yourself wherever from shedding within the first spherical to successful all of it,” Shriver mentioned. “Combined doubles is so unpredictable. However I do assume they’re each tremendous motivated. The truth that Murray has come again and is specializing in doubles exhibits simply how a lot he loves and enjoys the game, and that may actually assist them. Identical with Serena, she does not want to do that, however credit score to her for eager to.”
Combined doubles is a a lot totally different sport from singles, and even conventional doubles, and provides a novel expertise for the gamers and followers alike.
“Combined doubles is certainly probably the most entertaining belongings you’ll see on a tennis courtroom,” Mattek-Sands informed ESPN in 2018. “It is a totally different dynamic. You are gonna see some energy. You are gonna see some finesse. You actually have all of it in combined doubles.
“You get the blokes throwing their warmth on their serves, they usually aren’t taking it simple on the women throughout the web, both. They’re bringing their greatest serves, and then you definitely’ll see the nice volleys and the contact and the technique. I actually assume, for a fan, it might be probably the most attention-grabbing matches that they watch.”
Although neither Williams nor Murray has a lot current expertise in combined doubles or expertise taking part in with the opposite, and they’re unseeded, it is arduous to assume these two will not be the favorites getting into each match they play — beginning with Friday’s opening-round match in opposition to Alexa Guarachi and Andreas Mies. In spite of everything, they’ve a mixed 9 Wimbledon singles titles to their names, so that they do know a factor or two about the right way to win on the All England Membership. And, if nothing else, at the least they’ve gotten everybody speaking — and watching.
“I imply, good luck to everyone else,” Azarenka mentioned. “It is going to be a tricky, robust, robust [team] to beat. They each take it critically. However I really feel like it will be only a pleasure for folks to observe. , it will be historic. So I will be undoubtedly watching, as properly.”