More mixed doubles? Gladly - but with the best cast, please
The 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo have shown that the mixed doubles is a very attractive competition. However, primarily when the top stars of the individual scenes also go to the Bütt.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Aug 03, 2021, 12:44 pm
No, the author of these lines would not have thought of Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupkski either. Which is basically an indictment: Because the American - in singles outside the top 800, in doubles in the top 20 - won the Wimbledon title with her British partner a few days ago. Almost unnoticed, after all, Novak Djokovic added another chapter to his terrific success story in London, and Ashleigh Barty's first triumph also received a lot more attention.
And speaking of Djokovic and Barty: The two world number one have honored the mixed doubles at the Olympic Games in the past few days with their participation, the bronze match between Djokovic and Nina Stojanovic against Barty with partner John Peers came to nothing due to an injury to the Djoker . But the final between Andrey Rublev and Paris finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on the one hand and Aslan Karatsev and returnee Elena Vesnina on the other had a lot of charm. And enough star power. Not to forget, of course, the Greek pairing with Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas .
Djokovic at the US Open with a focus on the Grand Slam
Now the Olympic Games only take place every four years, in exceptional cases like this time there are even five years between the battles for precious metals. The gold medals of Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev seem a little brighter in the individual tennis context because they were won individually. But also Barbora Krejcikova, Katerina Siniakova, Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic can forever adorn themselves with the title of “Olympic Champion”. As well as Rublev and Pavlyuchenkova.
Will there be a da-capo at the US Open? Definitely not. Novak Djokovic would like to complete the calendar grand slam, Andrey Rublev finally get really far with a major, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has also tasted blood again. The mixed doubles therefore become a side note again, which is a shame in view of the good entertainment in Tokyo.
Bencic, Federer, Zverev, Kerber at the Hopman Cup
It is remarkable that the much-scolded ITF, which is also responsible for the Olympic Games when it comes to tennis, comes around the corner with a little silver lining is remarkable. and pretty. As already reported, the Hopman Cup should revive, probably outside of Australia and at the moment with an indefinite date. But if you have mixed memories apart from the Olympics, it was the meeting in Perth. There Roger Federer and Serena Williams faced each other for the first and only time so far. And there, the current individual Olympic champions fought a duel for the tournament victory: Belinda Bencic at Federer's side, Alexander Zverev with Angelique Kerber .