The GOAT debate is often dominated by singles players. Names like Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Steffi Graf are frequently discussed and their achievements weighed against each other.
But what about the magic that unfolds when two champions fight as one? While individual brilliance often dominates the tennis narrative, we often tend to overlook the achievements of doubles teams in tennis history.
It’s time to shine a spotlight on the duos who redefined the game. Which are the best doubles teams in history?
Our rankings will consider factors like Grand Slam titles, Davis Cup performances, and of course, the overall impact these duos have had on tennis history.
The Best Men’s Doubles Tennis Teams of All Time , Top 5
5. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi
Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi are the undisputed pioneers of Indian tennis. The duo made history as the first tennis duo in India to claim the number one spot in the rankings. Nicknamed ‘The Indian Express’, Paes and Bhupathi remain the benchmark all aspiring tennis players from India aim to reach.Â
Their teenage camaraderie blossomed into a record-breaking partnership. Together, they embarked on an unbeaten 24-match Davis Cup run, a feat unmatched in the tournament’s history. Their golden era, spanning from 1994 to 2006, brought them Wimbledon glory in 1999 and subsequent French Open triumphs.
Unfortunately, their partnership ended on a sour note in 2012. A very public falling out between the two marked a sad chapter in Indian tennis. Although they haven’t shared the court since then, they have resolved their differences and are enjoying their post-tennis lives.
4. John Newcombe and Tony Roche
John Newcombe and Tony Roche met in 1965, and the rest is history. They started with an Australian Open victory that year and brought their winning form to the hallowed turf of Wimbledon months later.
Between 1965 and 1971, they amassed an unprecedented 11 major championships out of a possible 12, a record that stood as a testament to their unparalleled skill and cohesion. While their record was eventually surpassed by the Bryan brothers in 2013, their legacy as one of tennis’ most formidable pairs remains intact.
The Aussies dominated the doubles scene during this era, with Newcombe and Roche at the heart of it. Incredibly, they faced off against fellow countrymen in all but two of their Grand Slam finals.
The duo has four Australian Opens, four Wimbledons, two French Opens, and one US Open title to show for their dominant reign.
3. John McEnroe and Peter Fleming
Peter Fleming, with typical understatement, once famously said that the best doubles team in tennis was “John McEnroe plus one”. While Fleming was known for his humility, it cannot be overlooked that McEnroe always believed Fleming was the perfect complement to his game.
McEnroe reigned as world number one for an astonishing 270 weeks. Although he partnered with various players during this era, his most successful collaboration was undoubtedly with Peter Fleming. Together, they formed one of the most formidable doubles teams ever seen, capturing 57 titles together.
Sadly, the McEnroe-Fleming partnership met a similar fate to McEnroe’s solo career. After McEnroe’s extended hiatus from tennis in 1986 following his marriage to Tatum O’Neal, the duo never quite recaptured their former glory.
2. Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde
Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, collectively known as ‘The Woodies,’ were exceptional singles players who transformed into an almost invincible doubles partnership. They etched their names into tennis folklore as one of the greatest doubles teams of all time. Australia, a hotbed of doubles talent, has produced many exceptional pairs, but none quite like them.
Woodbridge, a steady baseliner, and Woodforde, a natural volleyer, formed a formidable partnership that excelled on every surface. Renowned for their six Wimbledon titles, a record-breaking feat, their dominance extended across all Grand Slams, solidifying their status as one of tennis’ greatest doubles teams.
The pinnacle of the Woodies’ career was their Davis Cup triumph in 1999. In a thrilling final against France in Paris, they outclassed the formidable duo of Olivier Delaître and the mercurial Fabrice Santoro. This victory served as the perfect culmination to their extraordinary partnership, with Woodforde’s retirement following just a year later.
1. Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan
The Bryan brothers (image at the top of article) – Bob and Mike – are indisputably the greatest men’s doubles team in tennis history. Their twin telepathy, coupled with their complementary skill sets, created a virtually unbeatable force.Â
Mike’s powerful right-handed serve and Bob’s deft left-handed volleys formed a devastating combination. Their towering presence at the net and exceptional athleticism set them apart from the rest.
The Bryan brothers were the ultimate doubles dream team. They cleaned up on the Tour, finishing as the year-end number one pair a whopping ten times! Their trophy cabinet is packed with sixteen Grand Slam titles, with at least two wins at each major.
The Best Women’s Doubles Tennis Teams of All Time, Top 5
Let’s have a look at the best women’s doubles team ever…
5. Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza
Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza, the dynamic duo known as “Santina,” redefined women’s doubles in the past decade. Their partnership was a force of nature, capturing 14 titles in just 16 months. Their astonishing 41-match winning streak included nine consecutive WTA titles.
Hingis and Mirza conquered three out of the six Grand Slams they contested. Their triumphs at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open solidified their status as top seeds.
While the elusive Roland-Garros title escaped them twice, it hardly diminishes their overall brilliance. Hingis and Mirza claimed the women’s doubles ranking top spot in 2015, and held the world number one ranking for an impressive 69 consecutive weeks.
4. Cara Black and Liezel Huber
Cara Black from Zimbabwe and Liezel Huber from South Africa formed a formidable partnership in 2005, stunning the tennis world by capturing the Wimbledon title in their debut season together.
Reuniting in 2007, the African dream team dominated the doubles circuit and was duly rewarded with a year-end world number one ranking. Their Grand Slam triumphs that year included the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles.
Before going their separate ways in 2010, Black and Huber won an impressive 29 titles, including four Grand Slam trophies and two prestigious Sony Ericsson Championships together.
3. Serena Williams and Venus Williams
Serena and Venus Williams achieved the extraordinary by teaming up. Their historic achievement of completing both the Career Grand Slam and Golden Slam places them in a league of their own. To hold all four Grand Slam titles at once, as they did in 2010, is a feat that might never be matched.
Serena and Venus Williams have rewritten the record books countless times. Their two Career Golden Slams are just one example of their incredible achievements. The 2010 Roland-Garros title was simply the cherry on top of an already perfect career.
Their Grand Slam doubles finals record is a perfect 14-0, a record that only the iconic duo of Martina Navratilova-Pam Shriver can better with 20 titles to their name.
2. Natasha Zvereva and Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva had a commendable singles career with Wimbledon and US Open trophies in her cabinet, but it was the doubles where her game truly shone. The Belarusian enjoyed moderate success with Larisa Savchenko and Pam Shriver before finding her perfect comrade in Gigi Fernández.
Zvereva and Fernández won an incredible nine Grand Slams in a row. After winning the 1993 Wimbledon’s final, they had all four Grand Slam titles in their possession.
The duo won 14 out of the 17 Grand Slam finals they played. Their outstanding career feats were rightly recognized with induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2010.
1. Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver
Similar to Zvereva, Martina Navratilova had already enjoyed considerable success in the doubles arena before finding her ideal partner. The Czech-American star was already a doubles major champion and Wimbledon victor when she teamed up with Pam Shriver, but the peak of her doubles career was still to come.
Navratilova and Shriver kicked off their dominance with a Wimbledon victory in 1981, followed by a back-to-back sweep of the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles in both 1982 and 1983. In 1984, they won all Grand Slam doubles in a single calendar year.
They won 10 more Majors in the five years that followed. By the time they signed off, Navratilova and Shriver had become the gold standard in women’s double tennis with a staggering 21 honors to their names.
The Best Mixed Doubles Tennis Teams of All Time, Top 5
5. Leander Paes and Martina Hingis
Leander Paes and Martina Hingis formed a formidable partnership late in their illustrious careers. They already had illustrious singles careers, but their short but impactful team-up sprinkled more stardust to their already glittering resumes.
The duo embarked on a dream run, capturing Grand Slam titles at every major tournament between 2015 and 2016.
Hingis and Paes’ magical run ended after their French Open triumph in 2016. Despite the brief peak, they had already done enough to secure their place in tennis history as one of the greatest mixed doubles pairings ever.
4. Doris Hart and Frank Arthur Sedgman
Doris Hart was one of the biggest names in women’s tennis back in the ‘40s. She amassed an incredible 35 Grand Slam titles during her career, with a remarkable 15 of those coming in mixed doubles.
Hart developed an incredible partnership with Frank Arthur Sedgman and started their dominant run with the 1949 Australian Championship.
The pair’s winning form faltered after their initial Australian Championship victory, but they bounced back the following year to defend their title. An even more impressive run followed in 1951 and 1952, with the duo sweeping the French Championship, Wimbledon, and US Championship titles in both years.
3. Billie Jean King and Owen Davidson
When it comes to the pantheon of tennis greats, Billie Jean King stands out as one of the most complete players to ever grace the court.The legendary King claimed 12 singles titles, 16 doubles titles, and 11 mixed doubles titles, showcasing her unmatched versatility and dominance in every facet of the game.
While his profile might not shine as brightly as King’s, Owen Davidson’s remarkable partnership with Billie Jean King played a crucial role in securing his place in the Hall of Fame. Though he didn’t always grab the headlines, Davidson’s exceptional skill and synergy with King on the court produced incredible returns.
Davidson was the perfect foil to King’s brilliance. Together, they dominated mixed doubles in the late 1960s, winning eight Grand Slam titles. While Davidson didn’t claim a singles major, his partnership with King cemented his legacy in tennis history.
2. Margaret Court and Marty Riessen
Margaret Court has enjoyed unparalleled success during her playing days. She thrived across all formats of tennis, including mixed doubles.
After her successful partnership with Ken Fletcher ended, Margaret Court joined forces with Marty Riessen. Riessen was already a seasoned player with Davis Cup experience, but his career truly blossomed when he teamed up with the legendary Court.
Court and Riessen aced the mixed doubles circuit, winning the Australian, US, and French Opens in 1969. Their winning streak continued with another Wimbledon title and two more US Open victories before they split up.
1. Margaret Court and Ken Fletcher
Having won a monumental haul of 64 Major titles, the name Margaret Court will forever echo through tennis history. The Australian dynamo dominated on all fronts, securing 24 singles titles, 19 doubles titles, and 19 mixed doubles titles.
She had a fruitful mixed doubles partnership with Marty Riessen as they won six titles, including the 1975 Wimbledon. Court, however, found the best mixed doubles chemistry with her compatriot Ken Fletcher.
Court and Fletcher clinched 10 titles together, including a hat-trick of French Championship wins from 1963 to 1965. They also swept the Australian Open in 1963 and 1964, and added four Wimbledon crowns and a US Open title to their impressive collection.
Who do you think was the best doubles team in history? Make sure you comment here under!
