Intriguing doubles pairing incoming as Andy Murray signs up to team with Holger Rune in Brisbane

The main doubles draw of the 2024 Brisbane International brought the surprise of an unprecedented partnership between Andy Murray and Holger Rune. The former world No. 1 has a 16-year age difference with the Danish player, and they have never played together, nor do they have any matches against each other in the ATP Tour.

Murray is currently ranked world No. 574 in doubles, and Rune is No. 580, as they have not regularly competed in doubles on the ATP Tour. Brisbane will be their first tournament of the year and the only one in preparation for the 2024 Australian Open.

The 3-times Grand Slam champion played only one doubles match in 2023, partnering with Daniel Evans at ATP 500 Washington Open, where they reached the quarterfinals but were defeated by the Argentine duo Andrés Molteni and Máximo Gonzalez.

Rune, on the other hand, played two doubles tournaments last year. Firstly, at Indian Wells with Ben Shelton, where they lost in the first round to Felix Auger Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov. A couple of weeks later, he teamed up with Taylor Fritz, but they withdrew before the quarterfinals after a significant victory against the 4th seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic.

Although Murray has limited recent doubles experience, he reached a career-high ranking of world No. 51 and boasts three ATP 500 doubles titles: the first two at the 2010 Valencia Open and 2011 Japan Open with his brother Jamie Murray, and the third in 2016 at the Queen's Club Championships with Feliciano Lopez. Additionally, he won a silver Olympic medal in mixed doubles with Laura Robson at the 2012 London Olympics.

The reasons behind this partnership have not been detailed, but in Murray's case, it could be related to Olympic qualification. The former world No. 1 can play singles if he is within the top 56 players at the time of the entry list closure. For doubles, the British pair of Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, both currently in the top 10, are likely to secure qualification. Countries can compete with a second pair if another player qualifies, and Jaime Murray, the brother of the 3-times Grand Slam champion, currently holds a spot at world No. 16. However, to play with his brother, Andy Murray needs to be at least within the top 300.

Considering that this will be the only tournament for Murray and Rune before the Australian Open, they might be aiming to gain competitive rhythm and additional match practice before the first Grand Slam of the year.