Doubles gets quality time in the spotlight in West Virginia

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. — Doubles is getting its moment to shine, and then some, this month at The Greenbrier.

"Doubles is such a big part of WTT," Rajeev Ram says. "I just think the fact that every point counts the same. Doubles is three of the events so it's great for me. It's why I really love playing WTT since it's such a big part of it."

In World TeamTennis' format, three of the five sets are doubles (men's, women's and mixed) and the matches each day are loaded with doubles champions.

"It's playing for our team in a format that we love," Bob Bryan says. "We've played WTT for over 20 years. it really excites us to get out there to fight for something more than just ourselves, for our team to try to hold up the cup."

Mattek-Sands with Ram teaming up for Chicago Smash. (Ryan Loco)

Chicago Smash has nine-time Grand Slam champion Bethanie Mattek-Sands and reigning Australian Open winner Ram. The field is so stacked with doubles talent that Ram and Mattek-Sands have not won every set they've competed in. The same goes for the Bryans.

"A lot of the guys and girls in this competition have won majors," Ram says. "Maybe [I have]  a little bit of experience and a little bit of confidence because one of [mine] was earlier in January."

The Orange County Breakers added current world No. 7 Gabriela Dabrowski and Austin Krajicek at the last minute, boosting their roster.

"I think it's awesome for doubles in general," Krajicek says. "It's a good place to bring a lot of energy and show off some doubles skills."

Krajicek's team also features Andreja Klepac, who's currently ranked No. 30 as well as two singles stars, Steve Johnson and Jennifer Brady, that can hold their own in doubles if needed.

For the players that usually only compete in singles on tour, getting put into doubles alongside a legend is a lesson they can't get anywhere else.

"I just say look just tell me what to do and I'll do it," Eugenie Bouchard says. "[Mattek-Sands] calls the plays all the time and I just try to follow and try to keep up. I think we match well together, we've had some fun."

The strongest double duty team members might be Kim Clijsters for the New York Empire and Venus Williams for the Washington Kastles. Both have been No. 1 in singles and doubles, with multiple Grand Slam wins in each division. Clijsters' team also has Kveta Peschke, who was the No. 1 doubles player in the world in 2011.

Venus Williams has played singles and doubles for Washington. (Ryan Loco)

Peschke also won Wimbledon in 2011 and more doubles Slam winners include Jean-Julien Rojer (2014 French Open mixed), Robert Lindstedt (2014 Australian Open), Ryan Harrison (2017 French Open), CoCo Vandeweghe (2018 US Open) and Nicole Melichar (2018 Wimbledon mixed).

Then there's Mike and Bob Bryan, the greatest doubles duo of all time, who are competing for the Las Vegas Rollers. They've taken some losses as they settle in, but there's many more matches to go and their mentality is locked in.

"We're never satisfied," Bob Bryan says of their career. "We just kept our head down, we kept focused, we're always pushing each other. We just hated to lose. We feel like you're only as good as your last match."

The challenge as the favorites is that the Bryans are faced with players bringing their absolute best games against them. The rest of the field is eager to see how they compare to the 42-year-old legends.

Bob and Mike Bryan have won 16 Grand Slams together. (Ryan Loco)

"For me the Bryans have been the example for any doubles player," Fabrice Martin says. "They are the player you want to become with all the titles they have, it's tough to match them. Even singles guys can look up to them and wish to have that spirit when you're 40-something years old."

And mixed doubles is finally getting some time in the spotlight too, having been a discipline only seen at the four Grand Slams and formerly in Hopman Cup action.

"Mixed is so much fun," Mattek-Sands says. "Mixed doubles should be played more often. What other sport do men and women play on equal [levels]? It's not like the guys take it easy on me. There's times where it's not like the girl is the weaker link out there."

All of the doubles and singles action at The Greenbrier will continue until August 2, with the Philadelphia Freedoms currently leading the standings.