"People will watch doubles because they play doubles" It's totally true that the vast majority of recreational players play doubles, but my perception is that the vast majority of pro tennis viewers don't play themselves at all.
Earlier singles style was fast paced and had a lot of serve and volley so it wasn't that different from doubles, so players could easily transition into doubles...but singles today has become more of a baseline grind which is very different from doubles and the toll it takes on body has increased too...that could also be one of the many reasons u said ryt
I like doubles, but I’ll never be able to like it as much as singles. And I’d want my fav players to do what they need to win singles GS. Which could mean not playing doubles to stay fresh
When I think of tennis, I don't think of doubles at all. Yet I am old enough to (vaguely) remember McEnroe-Fleming, Navratalova-Shriver, and the Woodies. Those matches got attention and were great! Such a good topic for thought and discussion -- thank you.
I saw Laver & Emerson play Ramirez & Gottfried, but I have no idea who the double players are now. In the 70s pro tour (WCT, before ATP) the tour was small, and players pretty much had to also play doubles just to fill up the schedules. With 5 level tournaments now, there are so many players that singles players don't need to also play doubles. The thing is, there are plenty of boring singles matches to go around, but boring doubles matches are infrequent.
I think that the scheduling and Money are the biggest problem. If your main focus is singles it's already hard to stay healthy just playing singles. Most singles players seem to enjoy doubles when they play it. Kyrgios keeps saying he loves playing in team formats.
Great clip mate. I've personally always been a fan of 'team tennis' like the Davis cup or the Olympics over 'two randoms I've never heard of" I feel there's a gap for sponsors to set up teams with team names and rotating players for each team.. Could you imagine the tennis equivalent of Manchester United vs LA Lakers? I'd even take team Nike vs team Adidas. Or Yonex vs Head
Won't lie... I'm too old and slow to play singles now.... and enjoy the social aspect of doubles. Maybe you don't want to watch it, unless there are brand name singles players participating, but like Pickelball, doubles Padel, darts and bowling, rather play than watch it. Doubles tennis and Pickleball, the play is too fast to follow, the point drama doesn't build like in singles tennis or even doubles badminton, because the birdie floats, giving your eyes time and brain to process it.
Even youtube channels like Tennis TV pump out singles highlights within hours of a match but dubs highlights, even for finals, take several days to make to the channel.
As a former pro player, and a tennis fan who watch all level of tennis from ITF to Grand Slam, I'd say I disagree with what's said in the video. I think the main reason is exactly that doubles has became more and more boring nowadays, mostly because of the power enhancement on racquets, which led to doubles players have to heavily rely on overpowering their opponents and avoiding long rallies. This results in points are usually end in 3-4 shots, which isn't spectacular at all to fans, especially those who watch tennis for excitement. Tbh I'd rather watch mixed doubles rather than mans doubles which does 1-2-punch 80% of the time. Changing the format/schedule etc. to attract "tennis stars" won't help IMO, because if they're already "tennis stars" in singles, there's just no point for them to play in doubles. If they want to play doubles seriosly, it'd require additional practice session for doubles; and regardless how you change the format and schedule, there's still a chance to get injured in the match. If they're already "tennis stars" in singles, there's just no need for them to sacarfice the time to practice for doubles, risking getting injured and lose sponsorship, just to get some additional prize money in doubles. Most of what's said in the video could probably give doubles a short and quick boost, but still, if the contents in doubles remain the same, it'd still back to the same place in the end.
At least team tennis either at the high school or college level in the US has historically included doubles for every dual match. Way back in the early nineties when I played, dubs at the D2 level was still 2 out of 3 regular scoring. This has been abbreviated now, but there's no doubt there are benefits to playing doubles that can help your singles quite a bit.
Tennis promotes dopers like Sinner, don't giving exposure to Mahut-Herbert or Isner-Schwarzman pairings. Doubles players should make it to themselves to the level of pure doubles exhibitions, since ATP\WTA doesn't care.
I do not like to play doubles and probably because of that I don't want to watch these events. I might watch one doubles game where top 4 players play but I wouldn't be interested in another one. Sometimes there are doubles show matches and I think that those might show it in bad light putting off potential viewers (and myself) even more
The body can only take so much. So if you're going to make a decision about what events to enter, you want to do the ones that will give you the best return for your effort. And as far as the return goes, yes, its usually the money. I can pretty much guarantee that if doubles players got ten times the amount that singles players got,. all of a sudden you'd have everyone playing doubles. It's less work, and also, arguably, a little more fun.
No more doubles would be bad
"People will watch doubles because they play doubles"
It's totally true that the vast majority of recreational players play doubles, but my perception is that the vast majority of pro tennis viewers don't play themselves at all.
Jasmine Paolini plays dobble and single at high level
Earlier singles style was fast paced and had a lot of serve and volley so it wasn't that different from doubles, so players could easily transition into doubles...but singles today has become more of a baseline grind which is very different from doubles and the toll it takes on body has increased too...that could also be one of the many reasons u said ryt
Doubles in badminton is so fun. Tennis should be the same.
I like doubles, but I’ll never be able to like it as much as singles. And I’d want my fav players to do what they need to win singles GS. Which could mean not playing doubles to stay fresh
So cool to see footage of Erin @ Veltri, that's my home court! Go Erin!!
Doubles are fine. Casual players like me will continue to play doubles.
When I think of tennis, I don't think of doubles at all. Yet I am old enough to (vaguely) remember McEnroe-Fleming, Navratalova-Shriver, and the Woodies. Those matches got attention and were great! Such a good topic for thought and discussion -- thank you.
The Williams sisters made women’s doubles interesting
"How can we save doubles?" More money for the players, it's that simple.
Remember when all the top players would play Doubles at Indian Wells ;(
I saw Laver & Emerson play Ramirez & Gottfried, but I have no idea who the double players are now. In the 70s pro tour (WCT, before ATP) the tour was small, and players pretty much had to also play doubles just to fill up the schedules. With 5 level tournaments now, there are so many players that singles players don't need to also play doubles. The thing is, there are plenty of boring singles matches to go around, but boring doubles matches are infrequent.
I think that the scheduling and Money are the biggest problem. If your main focus is singles it's already hard to stay healthy just playing singles. Most singles players seem to enjoy doubles when they play it. Kyrgios keeps saying he loves playing in team formats.
Great clip mate. I've personally always been a fan of 'team tennis' like the Davis cup or the Olympics over 'two randoms I've never heard of"
I feel there's a gap for sponsors to set up teams with team names and rotating players for each team..
Could you imagine the tennis equivalent of Manchester United vs LA Lakers?
I'd even take team Nike vs team Adidas. Or Yonex vs Head
Won't lie... I'm too old and slow to play singles now.... and enjoy the social aspect of doubles. Maybe you don't want to watch it, unless there are brand name singles players participating, but like Pickelball, doubles Padel, darts and bowling, rather play than watch it. Doubles tennis and Pickleball, the play is too fast to follow, the point drama doesn't build like in singles tennis or even doubles badminton, because the birdie floats, giving your eyes time and brain to process it.
Wow, the quality of your videos just keeps going up and up. Keep us the great work!
Doubles is needed
Hallo from South Africa!!! 🩷🩷
The quality of your vids keep getting better
Even youtube channels like Tennis TV pump out singles highlights within hours of a match but dubs highlights, even for finals, take several days to make to the channel.
As a former pro player, and a tennis fan who watch all level of tennis from ITF to Grand Slam, I'd say I disagree with what's said in the video.
I think the main reason is exactly that doubles has became more and more boring nowadays, mostly because of the power enhancement on racquets, which led to doubles players have to heavily rely on overpowering their opponents and avoiding long rallies.
This results in points are usually end in 3-4 shots, which isn't spectacular at all to fans, especially those who watch tennis for excitement.
Tbh I'd rather watch mixed doubles rather than mans doubles which does 1-2-punch 80% of the time.
Changing the format/schedule etc. to attract "tennis stars" won't help IMO, because if they're already "tennis stars" in singles, there's just no point for them to play in doubles.
If they want to play doubles seriosly, it'd require additional practice session for doubles; and regardless how you change the format and schedule, there's still a chance to get injured in the match.
If they're already "tennis stars" in singles, there's just no need for them to sacarfice the time to practice for doubles, risking getting injured and lose sponsorship, just to get some additional prize money in doubles.
Most of what's said in the video could probably give doubles a short and quick boost, but still, if the contents in doubles remain the same, it'd still back to the same place in the end.
Interesting perspective. What do you think is the way out for Doubles?
Doubles never really had long points.
imo double matches are unattractive to watch, with way too few long rallies. i think the rules for doubles have to be adjusted.
99% of doubles rallies are barely more than 3 shots.
Women's doubles doesn't have that problem. It's a lot of fun
At least team tennis either at the high school or college level in the US has historically included doubles for every dual match. Way back in the early nineties when I played, dubs at the D2 level was still 2 out of 3 regular scoring. This has been abbreviated now, but there's no doubt there are benefits to playing doubles that can help your singles quite a bit.
Tennis promotes dopers like Sinner, don't giving exposure to Mahut-Herbert or Isner-Schwarzman pairings. Doubles players should make it to themselves to the level of pure doubles exhibitions, since ATP\WTA doesn't care.
I do not like to play doubles and probably because of that I don't want to watch these events.
I might watch one doubles game where top 4 players play but I wouldn't be interested in another one.
Sometimes there are doubles show matches and I think that those might show it in bad light putting off potential viewers (and myself) even more
Great video and discussion
Great discussion regarding an really interesting issue.
The body can only take so much. So if you're going to make a decision about what events to enter, you want to do the ones that will give you the best return for your effort. And as far as the return goes, yes, its usually the money. I can pretty much guarantee that if doubles players got ten times the amount that singles players got,. all of a sudden you'd have everyone playing doubles. It's less work, and also, arguably, a little more fun.
Audiences still prefer to watch singles. Everyone wants more money, where is it going to come from?
Doubles tennis is not very good to watch especially one sucky player among 3 better ones
감사합니다.