| Venue: All England Club Dates: 27 June-10 July |
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Venus Williams and Jamie Murray took their first step as a pairing into the “brutal world” of doubles tennis with an opening victory in the mixed event at Wimbledon.
It’s a game of whispers, secret hand gestures, tracking down a suitable team-mate – and sometimes quite awkward break-ups.
Just ask German Tamara Korpatsch, who was left “sad, disappointed and also very angry” after proposed partner Harmony Tan pulled out last-minute following her singles win over American great Serena Williams.
Tan’s recovery in time to defeat Sara Sorribes Tormo a day later has certainly not helped reconcile their fragile relationship.
It’s the sort of uncomfortable situation that men’s world number one doubles player Joe Salisbury knows all about.
“I have had some bad experiences,” said the Briton. “I’ve definitely had partners where it just hasn’t worked out personality wise.
“I used to think it wasn’t that big of a deal because you can just focus on the tennis and not spend time with them off the court but it doesn’t really work like that. It’s definitely an important thing to get on well with the person,” he added.
“The doubles world can be pretty brutal. If you’re not in a long-term partnership, someone else could come along and a player will think ‘they’re better, so I’ll ditch my current partner’.
“But that’s just the way it is, really.”
Wildcards Murray and Williams, who in all boast 23 Grand Slam doubles titles between them, overcame Michael Venus and Alicja Rosolska 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 in their first-round match.
Murray is a five-time mixed and two-time men’s doubles major champion, while Williams has won 14 women’s doubles Slam titles alongside sister Serena in addition to two mixed doubles triumphs.
The 42-year-old American had not played on the tour since last August but requested a late entry to play with two-time winner Murray as she aims to win the mixed competition at the All England Club for the first time.
Last year, Williams partnered with Australian Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon for one match before the Australian had to withdraw.
But have you ever stopped to wonder exactly how such – often unlikely – doubles pairings come about?
For Murray, it…
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