–

With the singles draws grabbing the lion’s share of attention on “Draw Friday” at Wimbledon, the doubles draws sort of go under the radar.

But Canada has a great change at a title in the women’s doubles, with Gabriela Dabrowski and Cana-Kiwi Erin Routliffe seeded No. 2 in the women’s event.

They face a stiff challenge from the start, though, as they’ll meet Russians Mirra Andreeva and Anastasia Potapova. Potapova is a credible doubles player, and Andreeva is a total wild card out there.

The top seeds are Hsieh Su-Wei and Elise Mertens.

There are a fair few more singles players in the Wimbledon doubles draw compared to them. That’s generally true at the Grand Slams, where the men play best-of-five; it’s especially true at Wimbledon where even if they lose early in the singles, most of the women want to hang around in tennis’s cathedral.

Mercifully, Wimbledon finally understood that the notion of playing best-of-five in the men’s DOUBLES as well was an idea best left to the 20th century. But it hasn’t made a measurable difference in participation on that end.

Notable women’s pairings

[4] Katerina Siniakova (CZE) and Taylor Townsend (USA)

[11] Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula (USA)

[14] Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sofia Kenin (USA)

Victoria Azarenka (BLR) and Paula Badosa (ESP)

Leylah Fernandez (CAN) and Ena Shibahara (JPN)

Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)

[PR] Elena Vesnina and Diana Shnaider (RUS)

Hailey Baptiste and Alycia Parks (USA)

Anna Kalinskaya and Donna Vekic (CRO)

Mirra Andreeva and Anastasia Potapova (RUS)

https://opencourt.ca/2024/06/28/wimbledon-2024-notes-from-the-womens-draw/

Men’s doubles draw mostly specialists

The men’s doubles draw has Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos at the top, and Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden at the bottom.

But the spotlight team is a brotherly one: Jamie Murray and Andy Murray look to team up in what almost certainly will be little brother’s final Wimbledon.

He’s unsure if he’ll make the date in singles, but has every intention of making this moment count.

Notable men’s pairings

Denis Shapovalov (CAN) and Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)

Alejandro Tabilo (CHI) and Diego Hidalgo (ECU) (They’re in the Mallorca final together)

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Petros Tsitsipas (GRE)

Casper Ruud (NOR) and William Blumberg (USA) (When Ruud plays doubles, it’s often with Blumberg).

Alexander Bublik and Alexander Shevchenko (KAZ) (Olympic pairing?)

Adrian Mannarino and Gionvanni Mpetschi Perricard (FRA) (Denied in the qualifying despite being the No. 1 seed with a ranking inside the top 60, Perricard at least will get to experience the big show).

https://opencourt.ca/2024/06/28/wimbledon-2024-notes-from-the-mens-draw/