Night and day. That’s how British six-time Grand Slam doubles tennis champion Jamie Murray describes the last decade-plus of change in doubles tennis. And with recent buzz surrounding doubles — from singles stars pairing up to enticing mixed doubles teams in major events — Murray loves the attention his sport garners and he doesn’t expect it to slow down anytime soon.
As more eyes turn to doubles, Murray is taking advantage of that interest, signing new sponsorship deals and beginning aJamie Murray expects the rise of doubles tennis to continue with the increase in prize money and fitness of players.The rise in doubles, Murray says, started years ago when doubles first started gaining television coverage. “It was a huge step because a lot more people had access to it,” he says. “That helped get it out there to more people.” And to more countries.
Add in that tour doubles offers a shortened format — the best-of-three match uses a super tiebreak format of the first team to 10 points in lieu of a full third set — makes it easier for players to enter singles and doubles while reducing the wear and tear on their bodies. “I think in general tennis players are playing longer because people know how to look after themselves better and the motivation is there because the money is so great,” he says.
Jamie Murray and his brother, Andy Murray, chat between points during a match on Aug. 2 in Washington, DC. For Murray, who also partnered with younger brother Andy this summer at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., he’s spent the 2019 season following the Australian Open with Skupski. The pair, though, has lost in the first round of both the French Open at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon. They are committed to play together through the end of the season.
Add in the fact that it is rare in sports to see men and women playing on equal footing and mixed doubles showcases something entirely singular. The instructional videos — he posts new ones each Monday — offer an opportunity to highlight the different skill sets needed for doubles. “There is not much out there that showcases the performance at the level we need to,” he says. “The cool thing about it is that everyone can improve their doubles not necessarily by hitting the ball better, but improving positioning on the court, movement on the court and being in the right spot at the right times.