Best doubles pairings of all time : Top 5

In a sport that is not known as a ‘team’ game, doubles comes as close as we can get, to playing as a team on the same court. Today we take a look at some of the most successful and revered doubles pairs, over the recent years.

The pair that made India visible on the radar of tennis, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi were singularly responsible to bring glory to their country in the sport of tennis. They won three grand slam titles together, and made it to the grand slam finals six times in their career. Although their history is marred with controversy and personal problems, the pair toured up until 2002, briefly returning to reunite in 2011. This Indian pair, who had considerable success on all surfaces, stands fifth on our list.

The pair of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis, was one of the most successful pairings in the recent times. Both of them are decorated doubles payers with multiple partners; with Sania winning 41 doubles titles over the years and Hingis going on to win 56. The pair was equally rampant together, winning 41 matches on a trot, and capturing 14 titles altogether. The pair split after spending 16 months together, as their accumulation of titles seemed to dwindle.

The name Martina Navratilova needs no introduction in the sport of tennis. Having, equal amounts of success in her singles as well as doubles career, Martina Navratilova, went on to collaborate with Pam Shriver in the year 1981. The duo went on to win 21 grand slam titles, and had equal success in other tournaments as well, demolishing opponent after opponent on every surface. The pair has won 79 tournaments out of the 104 that they played, piling up a staggering win loss record of 390-25. They stand third on our list.

The American twins, Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, were the most feared doubles players on the tour. The pair still holds the record for winning all four slams at the same time. The couple also holds the record for ending the year at the top spot for a record number of years (10 times).  The Bryan brothers, where the spearhead of the Davis cup team of US, winning a record number of matches in the Davis cup, and also leading their country to a famous Davis cup victory in 2007. The pair also had an incredible success rate at the slams, winning 16 titles together. The duo recently announced their retirement from Davis cup, although they will continue playing on the ATP circuit.

One of the most revered pairings of all times, Natasha Zvereva and Gigi Fernandez had unprecedented success in their doubles career. They went on to win 14 grand slam titles together, and dominated on all surfaces. In 2010, the pair were inducted into the hall of fame. They had a 28-match win streak, a record later broken by Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza.  The duo went on to win six grand slam titles in a row from the French Open in 1992 through Wimbledon in 1993, a record just short of eight in a row by Pam Shriver and Martina Navratilova. This pair stands first on our list.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:

SERENA WILLIAMS AND VENUS WILLIAMS

JOHN McENROE AND PETER BLAIR FLEMING