Who are the best doubles team ever?

[Zaragoza]

I don´t know too much about doubles history and after watching Davis Cup doubles matches this question came to my mind. I know about the achievements of Bryan bros, Bjorkman/Mirnyi, Woodforde/Woodbridge...but who are in your opinion the best doubles team ever?
I´m not asking about the best doubles player but the best doubles team.

 

[alfa164164]

Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge & John McEnroe teamed with almost any competent pro!

 

[TENNIS_IS_FUN]

Sampras in his prime + Federer

 

[dima]

How many grandslams did todd and mark win together? and how many did the bryans win?

 

[Camilio Pascual]

I´m not asking about the best doubles player but the best doubles team.

I don't think the best doubles team was in men's doubles, it was in mixed and women's doubles.
Martina Navratilova and somebody (Shriver or almost anybody) else. Look at the number of titles and the span of decades between her first and last Majors doubles titles.
'Nuff said.

 

[sotua]

I´m not asking about the best doubles player but the best doubles team.

I'd put my money on the woodies:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woodies

(11 slams, career slam, gold medal, 61 titles...)

 

[alfa164164]

Camilio

I'll take McEnroe/Fleming over Navratilova/Shriver any day, although I do get your point!

 

[9000tennis]

The best: The Woodies and McEnroe/Fleming.
The coolest: Jensen bros.

I'd really like to see a video featuring the Jensens. That would be very sweet.

 

[drakulie]

McEnroe with anybody. He even won a slam with Mary Carillo. This alone makes him the best ever in my book.

 

[Swinging Simian]

From a "photographic" point of view Anna K, and Martina Hingis. =)

 

[Rabbit]

There have been some great teams, I don't know that there is a best:

Hewitt/McMillan
Newcombe/Roche
Case/Masters
McEnroe/Fleming
Smith/Lutz
McNamara/McNamee
Denton/Curren
Flach/Seguso
Woodbridge/Woodforde
Paes/Bhupathi
Woodforde/Bjorkmann
Bjorkmann/Myrni
Bryans

Doubles is much more on an even keel than singles. The top teams can find themselves in dogfights on a regular basis with what, on paper, should be a non-competitive match.

One of the greatest examples of this was when John Newcombe and Fred Stolle entered the US Open on pretty much a lark and wound up going 5 sets with McEnroe/Fleming. It was the semis and McEnroe/Fleming won in a 5th set tiebreak.

You'll also notice that the great teams tend to overlap more in eras. Bob Lutz and Stan Smith played Davis Cup for the US when McEnroe/Fleming were pretty much the top team in the world. They did this in a tie against the Czechs when Lendl was playing for them to help rest John McEnroe. That particular tie was played at the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows in 1981. Lendl was forced to play doubles which put a bit more strain on him.

 

[noeledmonds]

Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge are almost undisputably the best pair ever with 11 mens doubles titles together, and more with other partners. As for other great induviduals, I would say Mcenroe and Bjorkman. Mcenroe was one of the few successfull singles and doubes players. Mcenroe won 9 mens doubes GS titles with several different players. Surely he would have won many more titles if he just played doubles. Bjorkman has 9 doubles GS titles (so far) and has won with 4 different players. He will surely add to this tally as he is currently on top of the game (with Max Mirnyi) as the number 1 mens doubles pair.

 

[Camilio Pascual]

I'll take McEnroe/Fleming over Navratilova/Shriver any day, although I do get your point!

Well said!
I get your point, too. (See: John Wooten/UCLA teams or Harlem Globetrotters vs. Boston Celtics)

 

[jelle v]

There have been some great teams, I don't know that there is a best:

Hewitt/McMillan
Newcombe/Roche
Case/Masters
McEnroe/Fleming
Smith/Lutz
McNamara/McNamee
Denton/Curren
Flach/Seguso
Woodbridge/Woodforde
Paes/Bhupathi
Woodforde/Bjorkmann
Bjorkmann/Myrni
Bryans

As a Dutchman I most say it breaks my heart that you don't even mention Haarhuis/Eltingh

Imo they were definitely better then some of the teams you mention.

They weren't the greatest ever, but they were the rivals of the Woodies, I think they always and only met in the finals.

Personally I think the Woodies were the greatest team ever.

 

[noeledmonds]

If we are talking about womens doubles teams too then look no further than Martina and Pam Shriver. They won 21 doubles GS titles together. They won every GS at least 4 times. They won the Grand Slam (all the slams in one year). They compiled a 109 match winning streak. They were the WTA Tour's "Doubles Team of the Year" for 8 consecutive years. There is no comparison in terms of doubles success and dominance.

 

[ericsson]

As a Dutchman I most say it breaks my heart that you don't even mention Haarhuis/Eltingh

Imo they were definitely better then some of the teams you mention.

They weren't the greatest ever, but they were the rivals of the Woodies, I think they always and only met in the finals.

Personally I think the Woodies were the greatest team ever.

Jelle, couldnt agree with you more, fantastic duo and i think Haarhuis is one the most tactical players i've ever seen.

 

[fastdunn]

McEnroe with anybody. He even won a slam with Mary Carillo. This alone makes him the best ever in my book.

This has been consensus for very long time: McEnroe and anybody.
I do not know any event that has changed this recently...

 

[Jet Rink]

Mac/Fleming. Amazing and completely complimentary. Saw them many times and they were devastating.

Jet

 

[chaognosis]

There were some great Aussie doubles teams: Quist/Bromwich, Sedgman/McGregor, Rosewall/Hoad, Laver/Emerson, and above all Newcombe/Roche. Also, among the Four Musketeers, Brugnon and Cochet were supposed to be an excellent doubles team. In an article for Tennis Magazine, 1973, George Lott ranked Newcombe/Roche as the best team. He also ranked Bromwich, Kramer and Budge as the best doubles players, in a three-way tie.

 

[ATXtennisaddict]

Woodies.

Results speak for themselves.

The Bryan bros have a chance to be better so we'll see how they end up.

 

[LuckyR]

Mac/Fleming. Amazing and completely complimentary. Saw them many times and they were devastating.

Jet

They could be devastating. If Big Flem was on, they were unbeatable. If he was off, which happened, they were definitely beatable.

 

[LuckyR]

Sampras in his prime + Federer

Uummm.... no.

 

[Elina]

So far Woodies are the best team ever. If Bryans keep up the level for some years they might get there, too.

 

[The Grand Slam]

And replying to some previous posts...

Adding two AWESOME SINGLES PLAYERS together does not add up to AWESOME DOUBLES TEAM.

 

[Laker]

John McEnroe and anyone else, even me.

 

[Steve Huff]

I like Rabbit's list. McMillin/Hewitt were great. In one of the slams, Newcombe and either Roche or Stolle were in their 40's and played McEnroe/Fleming in their prime. They took them to 5 close sets before losing.

 

[Rabbit]

As a Dutchman I most say it breaks my heart that you don't even mention Haarhuis/Eltingh

I stand corrected and accept your friendly amendment. The omission was not intentional my Dutch friend. You are correct, Haarhuis and Eltingh were a great pairing.

I like Rabbit's list. McMillin/Hewitt were great. In one of the slams, Newcombe and either Roche or Stolle were in their 40's and played McEnroe/Fleming in their prime. They took them to 5 close sets before losing.

Thanks, Steve. I do love doubles.

 

[Douggo]

I'll say Flach and Seguso, just because I like saying Flach and Seguso. And because Seguso's wife is hot.

 

[urban]

Rabbit has made a good list. There was a time, when the real great singles players also played doubles, not for fun, but in earnest. So with all credit to the Woodies, i rank some of the older teams higher on pure class of the individual players. I once saw the Woodies getting really whipped by the German team of Stich (maybe the best doubles player of th 90s) and Kühnen in a deciding Davis Cup final. Newcombe and Roche in their primes were devastating, one had the best forehand volley, the other the best backhand volley. As a team Hewitt and McMillan were marvellous, Hewitt (a very decent singles player, maybe a bit slow) had a wonderful return, McMillan superb volleys with his doublehander. The oldtimers say, that Brugnon and Bromwich were the best doubles players, Brom won doubles over 20 years with Quist and young Sedgman. Sedgman himself won the only Grand Slam of doubles together with McGregor in 1951, and almost did it again in 1952.

 

[travlerajm]

Isn't Mac still winning titles on the ATP tour every time he decides to grab a random partner like Bjorkman?

And Navratilova seems to be the female equivalent of Mac, winning multiple GS titles in her late 40s with different partners.

It's too bad Mac and Martina are both ad-courters, or else they could have teamed up!

 

[Kaptain Karl]

Great list:

Hewitt / McMillan
Newcombe / Roche
Case / Masters
McEnroe / Fleming
Smith / Lutz
McNamara / McNamee
Denton / Curren
Flach / Seguso
Woodbridge / Woodforde
Haarhuis / Eltingh
Paes / Bhupathi
Woodforde / Bjorkmann
Bjorkmann / Myrni
Bryan / Bryan

I'd consider adding:
Gottfried / Ramirez
Ashe / Okker
McNair / Stewart

- KK

 

[noeledmonds]

Isn't Mac still winning titles on the ATP tour every time he decides to grab a random partner like Bjorkman?

And Navratilova seems to be the female equivalent of Mac, winning multiple GS titles in her late 40s with different partners.

It's too bad Mac and Martina are both ad-courters, or else they could have teamed up!

Mac did indeed win an ATP tountnament last year with Bjorkman. A remarkable achivement for someone of his age. I would hardly describe Bjorkman as a random partner though, Bjorkman has as many doubles GS as Mcenroe and Bjorkman's career is far from over (Bjorkman and Myrni are currently world no. 1s).

Martina is the ultimate in doubles achivement and brilliance. She had over 30 womens doubles GS titles and at least 10 mixed GS titles as well. It is a shame she never teamed up with Mac, that is a partnership I would like have to seen.

I do not see the big deal about the Bryans. They can't dominate an old Bjorkman and a relativly unacomplished Myrni (who himself is unlikely to leave great legacy). Comparing them to The Woodies is plain absurd.

I feel Mahesh Bhupathi does deserve a mention for his contribution to mens's doubes and particularly mixed doubles. He also has led an interest for tennis in India that may be pivital in the future of the games's success.

 

[mileslong]

i will never vote for the bryan brothers, no two men, much less brothers, should be bumping uglies on the tennis court...

 

[The Gorilla]

The greatest doubles partnership of all time is John mcEnroe and anyone- Peter Fleming.

 

[travlerajm]

Mac did indeed win an ATP tountnament last year with Bjorkman. A remarkable achivement for someone of his age. I would hardly describe Bjorkman as a random partner though, Bjorkman has as many doubles GS as Mcenroe and Bjorkman's career is far from over (Bjorkman and Myrni are currently world no. 1s).

Martina is the ultimate in doubles achivement and brilliance. She had over 30 womens doubles GS titles and at least 10 mixed GS titles as well. It is a shame she never teamed up with Mac, that is a partnership I would like have to seen.

I do not see the big deal about the Bryans. They can't dominate an old Bjorkman and a relativly unacomplished Myrni (who himself is unlikely to leave great legacy). Comparing them to The Woodies is plain absurd.

I feel Mahesh Bhupathi does deserve a mention for his contribution to mens's doubes and particularly mixed doubles. He also has led an interest for tennis in India that may be pivital in the future of the games's success.

It sems to me that any time either of these two decides to grab a new partner, a grand slam title results. 1992 was a great example.

Mac grabbed Stich, and Navratilova grabbed Stark, and both won Wimbledon.

 

[JLyon]

Would be tough to leave off Bhupathi/Paes they were solid for the time they spent as a team.
I would think The Woodies, then Mac/???, Grabb/Reneberg, then Bryan's

 

[BlankenshipBabaganoosh]

Paes Bhupathi are the best of all time

 

[eunjam]

johnny mac in his heyday with anyone else.

 

[cak]

Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge are almost undisputably the best pair ever with 11 mens doubles titles together, and more with other partners. As for other great induviduals, I would say Mcenroe and Bjorkman. Mcenroe was one of the few successfull singles and doubes players. Mcenroe won 9 mens doubes GS titles with several different players. Surely he would have won many more titles if he just played doubles. Bjorkman has 9 doubles GS titles (so far) and has won with 4 different players. He will surely add to this tally as he is currently on top of the game (with Max Mirnyi) as the number 1 mens doubles pair.

Just last year McEnroe and Bjorkman paired to win the 2006 SAP. I'm very disappointed they didn't come back to defend their title. The interesting thing was in the first match together, despite this being McEnroe's first trip back to the ATP tour since something like 1992, it looked like Bjorkman was the nervous one. At age 47 McEnroe was the oldest ATP title winner in 30 years.

 

[Craig Sheppard]

You guys are way off... best doubles team? Hands down:

Ana Ivanovic & Maria Kirilenko