Doubles dynamo Patten slams ATP downsizing threat

Doubles champion Henry Patten has mounted a defence of the team speciality and reported ATP efforts to shrink the event into insignificance.

Briton Patten and Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara lifted their second title at the All England club after also winning in 2024, defeating Luis Arevalo and mate Pavic in three sets on Saturday.

Victory marked the third Grand Slam titles for the side in as many seasons after also winning the US Open last September.

But the US-based Brit was not shy about defending doubles and calling out the ATP plan to drastically cut the field at Masters 1000 events and hand over more prize money to singles players by cutting the doubles share from 20 to 10 percent..

The reported slashing would deprive many players of a key income stream and degrade the sport.

“I feel strongly that doubles can play a strong part in that and can help the ATP Tour grow the game. I think that’s what we should be focused on. No more in-fighting. It doesn’t help anyone.

“You know, let’s focus on growth and investing in the sport and creating more opportunities for people from different backgrounds. I really care strongly about that.

“I’ve been lucky enough to grow up in a fairly middle class household. Taking away doubles isn’t going to help the poorer kids or the kids who are far away from tennis centers or the kids who can only play twice a week,” Patten said.

“We should be encouraging people from all different backgrounds to play tennis and feel that they can make a living out of tennis. We should be growing that.”

He added that fans have come out for the team matches during the hottest Wimbledon fortnight on record.

“Every single round we’ve played, we started on Court 16, 17, . Full crowd.

“We then played on Court 18, full crowd. Played on Court 2 a couple times, full crowd. Court 1, full crowd. Today, full crowd.

“It’s difficult, because it seems like no matter how many times you do that, there’s like this very strong narrative that the product itself just isn’t good enough. I don’t think that’s true.

“I think we’ve kind of proven that to be wrong. Of course, Wimbledon plays a huge part in that. 

“People come to Wimbledon to watch tennis, whether it’s singles, doubles, wheelchair singles, wheelchair doubles, juniors, exhibition. People come to Wimbledon to watch tennis.”