Doubles Q1 Review: Mahut, Mirnyi, Murray Take Centre Stage

Murray New No. 1
Exactly five months ago, Marcelo Melo assumed the mantle of individual No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings, ending the three-year reign of Bob and Mike Bryan. It did not take long for the torch to be passed. On 4 April, Jamie Murray wrestled it away from the Brazilian, rising to the top spot and becoming the first British player – male or female – to do so in singles or doubles.

Murray and Bruno Soares are also the No. 1 tandem in the Emirates ATP Doubles Team Rankings, with their sights set on a trip to London for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in their first season together. The Brit and the Brazilian were ruthless in the month of January, posting a 12-1 record. They experienced their first taste of Grand Slam glory with a title run at the Australian Open (d. Nestor/Stepanek), a week after lifting the trophy in Sydney. Soares would also win the mixed title at Melbourne Park with Elena Vesnina.

Mirnyi Joins ‘700 Wins Club’
At age 38, Max Mirnyi has injected new life into his illustrious career, finding success with new partner Treat Huey. The duo are up to No. 4 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Team Rankings, having outlasted the field in winning the title in Acapulco, followed by a semi-final run last week at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Miami. Former World No. 1 Mirnyi enjoyed a moment alone in the spotlight as well, becoming just the ninth player to win 700 doubles matches. The Belarusian joins Daniel Nestor, Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Todd Woodbridge, Mark Knowles, Sherwood Stewart, Leander Paes and Jonas Bjorkman in the ‘700 Wins Club’.

Mahut/Herbert Enjoy Strong Start
Quick, who were the three teams to complete the Indian Wells-Miami double since 2000? Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor did it in 2002, the Bryans achieved the feat in 2014 and last week the French team of Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert joined the exclusive club. The duo added the pair of Masters 1000 crowns to their US Open title as they continue to hit top form together. Mahut also partnered with Vasek Pospisil in clinching the title at the ATP World Tour 500 event in Rotterdam, while reaching the semi-finals in singles that week.

Moments In The Spotlight
A notable absentee from the list of ATP World Tour doubles titlists in 2016 has been the Bryan brothers, who are mired in their longest title drought to open a season since 2003. While the Bryans search for their first title, others have grabbed the spotlight: Mate Pavic and Michael Venus own the most team titles this year with victories in Auckland, Montpellier and Marseille. Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah dominated the Golden Swing, going back-to-back in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, while reaching the semi-finals in Acapulco. In Delray Beach, Oliver Marach and Fabrice Martin saved six match points to stun the Bryans 13-11 in a Match Tie-break for their second team title. The feel-good story of the first quarter of 2016 came in Sao Paulo, where Chile’s Julio Peralta won his first ATP World Tour title, teaming with Horacio Zeballos to lift the trophy. At age 34, Peralta has overcome a catalogue of injuries and ailments throughout his 17-year career.