Rivals wary as Nadal, Djokovic team-up for doubles in Toronto
Source: Agencies |
August 9, 2010, Monday
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NO. 1-ranked Rafael Nadal and No. 2 Novak Djokovic are teaming up to play doubles together at next week's Rogers Cup in Toronto.
The ATP said it believes it's the first time the men holding the top two spots in the singles rankings have partnered for tournament doubles since No. 1 Jimmy Connors and No. 2 Arthur Ashe did it in 1976.
Benito Perez-Barbadillo, who is the publicist for both Nadal and Djokovic, said the pair discussed the possibility of playing with each other last season at hardcourt events in Montreal or Cincinnati. But Nadal wound up having a stomach muscle problem, so those plans were scuttled.
Djokovic brought up the thought of a high-powered doubles team again recently. "Novak called Rafa a couple of weeks ago and reminded him," Perez-Barbadillo said. "Rafa liked the idea again and here they are."
Nadal returned to No. 1 in the ATP singles rankings in June, replacing Roger Federer there, after winning his fifth French Open championship. When Federer then lost in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, that made him slide to No. 3 for the first time since 2003, and Djokovic moved up to No. 2.
Nadal owns eight grand slam singles titles, and Djokovic owns one.
Neither has won a major championship in doubles; generally, the best male singles players do not want to expend extra energy by entering the doubles at grand slam tournaments.
Nadal does own six career ATP doubles titles, including one this year at Indian Wells in March, when he played with Marc Lopez. Djokovic's lone ATP doubles title came this year at Queen's Club in June, alongside Jonathan Erlich.
Connors and Ashe teamed up at a tournament in North Conway, New Hampshire, in August 1976, losing in the quarterfinals. In July 1976, they lost in the final at Washington.
The ATP said it believes it's the first time the men holding the top two spots in the singles rankings have partnered for tournament doubles since No. 1 Jimmy Connors and No. 2 Arthur Ashe did it in 1976.
Benito Perez-Barbadillo, who is the publicist for both Nadal and Djokovic, said the pair discussed the possibility of playing with each other last season at hardcourt events in Montreal or Cincinnati. But Nadal wound up having a stomach muscle problem, so those plans were scuttled.
Djokovic brought up the thought of a high-powered doubles team again recently. "Novak called Rafa a couple of weeks ago and reminded him," Perez-Barbadillo said. "Rafa liked the idea again and here they are."
Nadal returned to No. 1 in the ATP singles rankings in June, replacing Roger Federer there, after winning his fifth French Open championship. When Federer then lost in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, that made him slide to No. 3 for the first time since 2003, and Djokovic moved up to No. 2.
Nadal owns eight grand slam singles titles, and Djokovic owns one.
Neither has won a major championship in doubles; generally, the best male singles players do not want to expend extra energy by entering the doubles at grand slam tournaments.
Nadal does own six career ATP doubles titles, including one this year at Indian Wells in March, when he played with Marc Lopez. Djokovic's lone ATP doubles title came this year at Queen's Club in June, alongside Jonathan Erlich.
Connors and Ashe teamed up at a tournament in North Conway, New Hampshire, in August 1976, losing in the quarterfinals. In July 1976, they lost in the final at Washington.
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