"I think that they should make doubles draws smaller": Former doubles World No.1 Rennae Stubbs agrees 'to an extent' with Opelka's view surrounding doubles
ATP
Former
doubles world No. 1 Rennae Stubbs commented on the criticisms made by Reilly
Opelka about doubles tennis.
The
Australian spoke on "The Rennae Stubbs tennis Podcast" about Opelka's
stance on doubles. The American has stated that doubles should not be played
since few people are interested in the category.
“"I've
had conversations with Reilly. The thing with Reilly is, this is an economics
thing for him, right? He feels like in certain tournaments, the tournament has
to pay the double players to be there,” the Australian stated.
"They
have to give them a place, pay for their hotels etc. Like, paying for their
food. And he feels like it's taking the economics away from the singles
players, particularly in smaller tournaments.”
"He
has a point in some respects. You can say that doubles players don't sell
tickets as well near to a lot of singles players. But those players that don't
get a lot of publicity have to play against the higher singles ranking. So
without them you can't have a tournament. All of that is true to certain extent.",
she added.
The tennis
player who retired in 2011 won four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles and
two in mixed doubles. She defended the idea of making changes that would
incentivize singles players to participate in the doubles draw, which could
generate more interest among fans.
"Wimbledon
has now this year announced that it will not be best of five sets from the
first round on in the men's doubles, which I think is a great idea. Because
there was nothing worse than having to play after a men’s doubles match because
they would go for fucking five hours at Wimbledon sometimes."
"If
they’re doing best for three across the board, I think it's a good idea and you
might get singles players playing doubles now because that's one of the reasons
why they don't play,” added the Australian.
“I would
like to see maybe the draws smaller. Make the drawers a little bit smaller
rather than a 32 doubles draw make it a 16 doubles draw, or even in some cases
an eight doubles draw,"
"And,
you know, you might get some really top players playing doubles a little bit
more. Which we would love to see because most fans love watching doubles.” Stubbs
concluded.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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