Greatest Men's Doubles Team?

[hoodjem]

Earlier I was reading the article about Stan Smith earlier, and it mentioned his doubles play with Bob Lutz. They were quite good together. So I started wondering who was the greatest men's doubles team of all time?

Was it Smith/Lutz?
Or the Doherty brothers?
Borotra/Lacoste?
Kramer/Schroeder?
Sedgman/McGregor
Hoad/Rosewall?
Stolle/Emerson?
Hewitt/McMillan?
Nastase/Tiriac?
Newcombe/Roche?
McEnroe/Fleming?
Flach/Seguso?
Woodbridge/Woodforde?
the Bryan brothers?

 

[VivalaVida]

The best doubles team is John Mcenroe and "Insert player's name here".

 

[urban]

Sedgman- McGregor won the only doubles Grand Slam for a team. Brugnon was the doubles expert of the French Musketeers, at his best probably with Borotra. Maybe they were the best pre war team ahead of Allison-van Ryn. Newcombe and Roche won tons of majors in the late 60s and early 70s, when really the best singles players played doubles. However, I would go with Bromwich- Quist, because John Bromwich was probably the best doubles player of them all, and with Quist won Wimbledon in 1950, when both were way past their prime. Without WWII they would have won far more majors. Thats for the constant teams. If you think of the one time partnerships: Newcombe and Laver, who won the DC in 1973 in a rout over Smith-van Dillen, and McEnroe-Stich come to mind.

 

[rasajadad]

The "Woodies".

 

[crabgrass]

not the greatest ever but mcnamara/mcnamee were also a pretty strong combo

 

[DMan]

The best doubles team is John Mcenroe and "Insert player's name here".

I never subscribed to this theory.

McEnroe and Borg? I don't think so.
McEnroe and Connors? NOT!
McEnroe and Lendl? You CANNOT be SERIOUS!!

Yes, McEnroe was a great doubles player. Extremely talented at net. But he was not unbeatable.

I think the Woodies would beat McEnroe-Fleming 6 of 10 times. Same for the Bryan Brothers. I also put Newcombe-Roche ahead of McEnroe-Fleming.

 

[kimbahpnam]

Roddick/Fish

 

[rqtguy]

You cannot be serious!!!!!!

Roddick/Fish

Not even close!!!!

 

[jaggy]

Ive really gone back and forth on this, I became a fan in the 70s but in the 80s I watched so much more. I will go with the Woodies but its a tough one.

 

[rajeshafrica]

Sedgman- McGregor won the only doubles Grand Slam for a team. Brugnon was the doubles expert of the French Musketeers, at his best probably with Borotra. Maybe they were the best pre war team ahead of Allison-van Ryn. Newcombe and Roche won tons of majors in the late 60s and early 70s, when really the best singles players played doubles. However, I would go with Bromwich- Quist, because John Bromwich was probably the best doubles player of them all, and with Quist won Wimbledon in 1950, when both were way past their prime. Without WWII they would have won far more majors. Thats for the constant teams. If you think of the one time partnerships: Newcombe and Laver, who won the DC in 1973 in a rout over Smith-van Dillen, and McEnroe-Stich come to mind.

How about Bob Hewitt and Frew Mcmillan ( they were amazing even when they were in thier late thirties) with Roy Emerson and Rod Laver, Rafael Osuna and Tony Palafox dark horses.

 

[urban]

Bob Hewitt played probably the greatest double-performance i have seen, when he and McMillan beat McEnroe/ Fleming at the Wim final in 1978. He left even Mac, no slouch at doubles himself, looking bewildered. He won also the Wim doubles title together with Stolle. However, when Hewitt/ McMillan and Newcombe/ Roche were in their primes, almost always the Aussie pair won.

 

[GameSampras]

Fed/Wablinki:shock:

An olympic win over the bryan bros. Go figure.

Obviously this proves that the Bryan Bros arent the greatest

 

[hoodjem]

I kinda think the Woodies may have been the best.?

 

[wjt_tennis]

Mac/Flemming and the Woodies are my pics. I was watching the Edberg/Courier match this weekend and didn't realize that Edberg was the last player to be ranked number 1 in both men's singles and doubles. He and Jarryd were a great team as well.

 

[droliver]

The Woodies (+ Jonas Bjorkman, who's almost a woodie) were the best

Props also to guys like Mark Knowles, Leander Paes, & Anders Jarryd who could partner with anyone and be competative

 

[ohlori]

Haarhuis/Eltingh are never mentioned because of the Woodies, but they won the career slam in the 90's.
The Woodies had to wait until 2000 to accomplish that, but they owned Wimbledon (until 1998).

 

[Patrick_St]

The Woodies and Newcombe/Roche.

 

[Deuce]

I know they can't be considered for best team ever, but since pretty much all the other top teams have already been mentioned, I'll throw in Curren/Denton. They had some good years in the early 1980s.

The best doubles team is John Mcenroe and "Insert player's name here".

^ That's what Peter Fleming used to say about McEnroe, playing down his own contribution in the process.

Props also to guys like Mark Knowles, Leander Paes, & Anders Jarryd who could partner with anyone and be competative

^ I think Daniel Nestor (Knowles' longtime partner) has had more success playing with others than has Knowles, hasn't he?

 

[Fedace]

Mcenroe + Anybody.

 

[pc1]

Sedgman- McGregor won the only doubles Grand Slam for a team. Brugnon was the doubles expert of the French Musketeers, at his best probably with Borotra. Maybe they were the best pre war team ahead of Allison-van Ryn. Newcombe and Roche won tons of majors in the late 60s and early 70s, when really the best singles players played doubles. However, I would go with Bromwich- Quist, because John Bromwich was probably the best doubles player of them all, and with Quist won Wimbledon in 1950, when both were way past their prime. Without WWII they would have won far more majors. Thats for the constant teams. If you think of the one time partnerships: Newcombe and Laver, who won the DC in 1973 in a rout over Smith-van Dillen, and McEnroe-Stich come to mind.

Urban,

Super post. I am amazed that you mentioned the Newcombe-Laver partnership in the 1973 Davis Cup. I always thought for one match, that was the most impressive performance I've ever seen by a doubles team. Both Laver and Newcombe were on their game and Laver's returns were incredible.

I suppose of the teams I've seen, it would be between Newcombe-Roche, Hewitt-McMillan and McEnroe-Fleming. Push comes to shove I guess I would go with Newcombe and Roche. I supposed I'm somewhat influenced by the fact old Newcombe and Stolle came so close to defeating McEnroe-Fleming in 1981 in doubles. I think it was 1981 at least.

The one I enjoyed the most was Hewitt-McMillan. Odd looking team and if you saw them you wouldn't think they could beat your grandmother on her deathbed but one they got on the court, great doubles returns, perfect volleys, great angles.

 

[martin]

Haarhuis/Eltingh are never mentioned because of the Woodies, but they won the career slam in the 90's.
The Woodies had to wait until 2000 to accomplish that, but they owned Wimbledon (until 1998).

Haarhuis/Eltingh had a much shorter career than the woodies. They could have won a lot more. Probably not many will know this but they have a positive head to head record against the woodies leading 9-8.

 

[wjt_tennis]

I know that we are talking about men's doubles here but what about best women's team?

Navratilova/Shriver?

Surely Martina is the most dominant player, male or female, to play dubs...I am not saying she could have competed on the men's tour or anything...just that she was the G.O.A.T.

 

[SpaceCadet]

Odd that no one has mentioned the combo of Jarryd & Fitzgerald.

 

[GS]

Mcenroe + Anybody.

Well, years ago, Barry McKay somehow paired up McEnroe and Agassi to play doubs in his San Francisco tournament. I'm glad I didn't go---it was a fiasco. Not only did they lose easily in the first round, they wore matching Agassi outfits then---yeah, those shirts that were partly neon yellow, and that yellow spandex underwear. McEnroe looked like a clown.

 

[BTURNER]

for the ladies, consider Brough and Osborn Dupont and Zvrereva and Fernandez and finally Court and anyone with a racket. Court has no less than 14 doubles titles mostly with Judy Tegart Dalton, Turner Bowery, and Wade. Mind King and Casals did pretty well too.

 

[Carsomyr]

The Woodies.

 

[Carsomyr]

The Woodies.

 

[DonBudge]

doherty ten char

 

[hoodjem]

^^^Do you mean "the Does"?

 

[kiki]

Brom and the Doctor

 

[KG1965]

Open Era

1) the Bryan brothers
2) McEnroe/Fleming
3) Smith/Lutz, Hewitt/McMillan, Gottfried/Ramirez, Newcombe/Roche, Woodbridge/Woodforde.

if more importance is given to the periods where it was more competitive ... (the top dogs constantly participate in the torunaments).

1) Newcombe/Roche
2) McEnroe/Fleming
3) Smith/Lutz, Hewitt/McMillan, Gottfried/Ramirez.

 

[hoodjem]

Which doubles team is the only one team to win the Grand Slam?

 

[thrust]

Earlier I was reading the article about Stan Smith earlier, and it mentioned his doubles play with Bob Lutz. They were quite good together. So I started wondering who was the greatest men's doubles team of all time?

Was it Smith/Lutz?
Or the Doherty brothers?
Borotra/Lacoste?
Kramer/Schroeder?
Sedgman/McGregor
Hoad/Rosewall?
Stolle/Emerson?
Hewitt/McMillan?
Nastase/Tiriac?
Newcombe/Roche?
McEnroe/Fleming?
Flach/Seguso?
Woodbridge/Woodforde?
the Bryan brothers?

REAL Doubles Players:
Newcombe/ Roche
Hoad/Rosewall
McEnroe/ Fleming
Sedgman/ McGregor
Bororta/Cochet
The Bryans and Woodies were great but primarily doubles specialists in a much different game. Probably should put McEnroe and Fleming above Hoad and Rosewall as they played many more time together than Lew and Ken

 

[goldenera]

REAL Doubles Players:
Newcombe/ Roche
Hoad/Rosewall
McEnroe/ Fleming
Sedgman/ McGregor
Bororta/Cochet
The Bryans and Woodies were great but primarily doubles specialists in a much different game. Probably should put McEnroe and Fleming above Hoad and Rosewall as they played many more time together than Lew and Ken

Hewitt and Mc Millan
Destroyed the americans in the Wimbledon final

 

[goldenera]

Tough call whatsoever
And a lost art

 

[RiverRat]

Well, years ago, Barry McKay somehow paired up McEnroe and Agassi to play doubs in his San Francisco tournament. I'm glad I didn't go---it was a fiasco. Not only did they lose easily in the first round, they wore matching Agassi outfits then---yeah, those shirts that were partly neon yellow, and that yellow spandex underwear. McEnroe looked like a clown.

Was that Mac in his 50s?

 

[Olli Jokinen]

Edberg/Järryd was great fun to watch, very dynamic. A shame Edberg stopped focussing on doubles. Both of them did all right after the split, though.

 

[goldenera]

I always said that the team that I missed was Edberg and Jarryd
Potentially one of the best ever

 

[goldenera]

Jarryd and any other was the best team for some tine

 

[thrust]

I know that we are talking about men's doubles here but what about best women's team?

Navratilova/Shriver?

Surely Martina is the most dominant player, male or female, to play dubs...I am not saying she could have competed on the men's tour or anything...just that she was the G.O.A.T.

du Pont- Brough
Hart-Fry

 

[goldenera]

Court and anyone
Casals ans King
Hingis ans Kournikova
Jordan ans Smith