We would like to see a Tsitsipas or a Rune play doubles," Mahut discusses changes needed to revive the discipline
Nicolas Mahut is preparing to play his final matches on the professional tour. At 43 years old, the Frenchman will make a return to doubles with Pierre-Hugues Herbert in Paris. A specialist in the discipline, Mahut has won all Grand Slam titles, including Roland-Garros twice.
In an interview shared by *Punto de Break*, the Angers native shared his thoughts on doubles in professional tennis. According to him, the discipline is bound to decline without significant changes:
"It’s true that the perception of doubles on the tour today isn’t the same everywhere. Unlike in Anglo-Saxon countries like the United States, England, or Australia, where doubles culture is stronger, in France, the situation is quite disparaged.
Often, the player who hasn’t succeeded in singles is the one who turns to doubles. We need to do something different in terms of scheduling and promotion. It has nothing to do with social media, where there are more and more images, but doubles are never promoted unless there’s a top singles player involved.
During a Masters 1000, for example, we need to think about when doubles matches are scheduled. We all agree that we’d love to see a Tsitsipas or a Rune play doubles—I’m sure a lot of fans would come to watch them because they enjoy the discipline.
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