Hanlon Walsh
@hanlonwalsh.bsky.social
Tennis Writer (Mostly Doubles) & Media/Comms Specialist 🎾🎙️📢
https://www.thetennistribe.com/doubles-news/
https://www.thetennistribe.com/doubles-news/
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Hanlon Walsh
@hanlonwalsh.bsky.social
· Jul 28
Can World No. 1 Taylor Townsend Take Doubles to New Heights?
A look at the rise of American Taylor Townsend as the top ranked doubles player in the world, and what this could mean for doubles
thetennistribe.com
From teen prodigy to working mom, Taylor Townsend’s pro journey hasn’t been easy.
A look at her title in Washington, rise to world No. 1, and what this could mean for pro doubles.
Thanks to @benrothenberg.bsky.social
for weighing in. My story from DC:
thetennistribe.com/new-doubles-...
A look at her title in Washington, rise to world No. 1, and what this could mean for pro doubles.
Thanks to @benrothenberg.bsky.social
for weighing in. My story from DC:
thetennistribe.com/new-doubles-...
2026-2027 prediction…
Novak Djokovic de-prioritizes peaking at the slams and focuses on winning ATP 500 & 250 titles, surpassing Federer (103) and eventually Jimmy Connors (109) in all-time career title records.
At 101 titles, he’s only two away from tying Federer now.
Novak Djokovic de-prioritizes peaking at the slams and focuses on winning ATP 500 & 250 titles, surpassing Federer (103) and eventually Jimmy Connors (109) in all-time career title records.
At 101 titles, he’s only two away from tying Federer now.
November 11, 2025 at 1:41 PM
2026-2027 prediction…
Novak Djokovic de-prioritizes peaking at the slams and focuses on winning ATP 500 & 250 titles, surpassing Federer (103) and eventually Jimmy Connors (109) in all-time career title records.
At 101 titles, he’s only two away from tying Federer now.
Novak Djokovic de-prioritizes peaking at the slams and focuses on winning ATP 500 & 250 titles, surpassing Federer (103) and eventually Jimmy Connors (109) in all-time career title records.
At 101 titles, he’s only two away from tying Federer now.
Get to know the ATP Finals doubles field in our preview, featuring 5 of 8 teams who return from 2024 ⭐️
No. 2 Heliovaara/Patten
No. 3 Granollers/Zeballos
No. 4 Arevalo/Pavic
No. 6 Krawietz/Puetz
No. 7 Bolelli/Vavassori
10 storylines & team breakdown ⬇️
tinyurl.com/4dnszpar
No. 2 Heliovaara/Patten
No. 3 Granollers/Zeballos
No. 4 Arevalo/Pavic
No. 6 Krawietz/Puetz
No. 7 Bolelli/Vavassori
10 storylines & team breakdown ⬇️
tinyurl.com/4dnszpar
2025 ATP Finals Doubles Preview: Five of Eight Doubles Teams Return
10 storylines and a team-by-team breakdown of the top 8 ATP doubles teams in Turin, with five of eight returning from last year.
tinyurl.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Get to know the ATP Finals doubles field in our preview, featuring 5 of 8 teams who return from 2024 ⭐️
No. 2 Heliovaara/Patten
No. 3 Granollers/Zeballos
No. 4 Arevalo/Pavic
No. 6 Krawietz/Puetz
No. 7 Bolelli/Vavassori
10 storylines & team breakdown ⬇️
tinyurl.com/4dnszpar
No. 2 Heliovaara/Patten
No. 3 Granollers/Zeballos
No. 4 Arevalo/Pavic
No. 6 Krawietz/Puetz
No. 7 Bolelli/Vavassori
10 storylines & team breakdown ⬇️
tinyurl.com/4dnszpar
Massive opening win for Italian home favorites, Simone Bolelli & Andrea Vavassori. The No. 7 seeds dismiss top seeds Cash/Glasspool 7-5, 6-3 to go 1-0 in group play.
Let’s just hope their Davis Cup captain is taking notes 👀🇮🇹
Let’s just hope their Davis Cup captain is taking notes 👀🇮🇹
November 9, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Massive opening win for Italian home favorites, Simone Bolelli & Andrea Vavassori. The No. 7 seeds dismiss top seeds Cash/Glasspool 7-5, 6-3 to go 1-0 in group play.
Let’s just hope their Davis Cup captain is taking notes 👀🇮🇹
Let’s just hope their Davis Cup captain is taking notes 👀🇮🇹
2025 was such a high quality WTA season with a core top 9 who distanced themselves from the pack and continued building compelling rivalries.
This top 9 group won all 4 slams, competed in all 4 slam finals, and won 9 of the 10 Masters 1000s.
Best WTA season since ______?
This top 9 group won all 4 slams, competed in all 4 slam finals, and won 9 of the 10 Masters 1000s.
Best WTA season since ______?
November 9, 2025 at 4:03 PM
2025 was such a high quality WTA season with a core top 9 who distanced themselves from the pack and continued building compelling rivalries.
This top 9 group won all 4 slams, competed in all 4 slam finals, and won 9 of the 10 Masters 1000s.
Best WTA season since ______?
This top 9 group won all 4 slams, competed in all 4 slam finals, and won 9 of the 10 Masters 1000s.
Best WTA season since ______?
Hearing of a few new WTA doubles pairings in the works for 2026:
Erin Routliffe & Asia Muhammad
Ellen Perez & Demi Schuurs
Jess Pegula & McCartney Kessler
Who else?
Erin Routliffe & Asia Muhammad
Ellen Perez & Demi Schuurs
Jess Pegula & McCartney Kessler
Who else?
November 8, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Hearing of a few new WTA doubles pairings in the works for 2026:
Erin Routliffe & Asia Muhammad
Ellen Perez & Demi Schuurs
Jess Pegula & McCartney Kessler
Who else?
Erin Routliffe & Asia Muhammad
Ellen Perez & Demi Schuurs
Jess Pegula & McCartney Kessler
Who else?
No. 4 Elise Mertens & Veronika Kudermetova oust the top-seeded Italians Errani/Paolini 6-3, 6-3 to go 2-1 in group play.
They won the WTA Finals in 2022 & have the most H2H wins (9-3) over the top 8 field this year…don’t sleep on them. (My pick to win the title)
They won the WTA Finals in 2022 & have the most H2H wins (9-3) over the top 8 field this year…don’t sleep on them. (My pick to win the title)
November 5, 2025 at 1:44 PM
No. 4 Elise Mertens & Veronika Kudermetova oust the top-seeded Italians Errani/Paolini 6-3, 6-3 to go 2-1 in group play.
They won the WTA Finals in 2022 & have the most H2H wins (9-3) over the top 8 field this year…don’t sleep on them. (My pick to win the title)
They won the WTA Finals in 2022 & have the most H2H wins (9-3) over the top 8 field this year…don’t sleep on them. (My pick to win the title)
The Hsieh & Ostapenko train keeps on rollin’ in Riyadh 🚂
The fan favorites take out No. 1 seeds Errani/Paolini 6-3, 6-4 in a clinical performance to go 2-0 (and in great position to make the SFs).
Hsieh last won this event in 2013 & Ostapenko eyes her 1st WTA Finals title.
The fan favorites take out No. 1 seeds Errani/Paolini 6-3, 6-4 in a clinical performance to go 2-0 (and in great position to make the SFs).
Hsieh last won this event in 2013 & Ostapenko eyes her 1st WTA Finals title.
November 3, 2025 at 1:32 PM
The Hsieh & Ostapenko train keeps on rollin’ in Riyadh 🚂
The fan favorites take out No. 1 seeds Errani/Paolini 6-3, 6-4 in a clinical performance to go 2-0 (and in great position to make the SFs).
Hsieh last won this event in 2013 & Ostapenko eyes her 1st WTA Finals title.
The fan favorites take out No. 1 seeds Errani/Paolini 6-3, 6-4 in a clinical performance to go 2-0 (and in great position to make the SFs).
Hsieh last won this event in 2013 & Ostapenko eyes her 1st WTA Finals title.
38 year-old Sara Errani & 39 year-old Hsieh Su-Wei both competed in the same WTA Finals events in 2013 & 2014.
Eleven years later, they’re back for another WTA Finals, competing against each other for a semifinals spot today 👊🏻
Eleven years later, they’re back for another WTA Finals, competing against each other for a semifinals spot today 👊🏻
November 3, 2025 at 12:27 PM
38 year-old Sara Errani & 39 year-old Hsieh Su-Wei both competed in the same WTA Finals events in 2013 & 2014.
Eleven years later, they’re back for another WTA Finals, competing against each other for a semifinals spot today 👊🏻
Eleven years later, they’re back for another WTA Finals, competing against each other for a semifinals spot today 👊🏻
No. 2 Katerina Siniakova & Taylor Townsend edge past No. 7 Timea Babos & Luisa Stefani 6-2, 3-6, 10-6 in their opening match in Riyadh.
The 2024 finalists are 29-5 on the year with the highest win percentage (85%) among the top 8 field 💯
The 2024 finalists are 29-5 on the year with the highest win percentage (85%) among the top 8 field 💯
November 2, 2025 at 9:30 PM
No. 2 Katerina Siniakova & Taylor Townsend edge past No. 7 Timea Babos & Luisa Stefani 6-2, 3-6, 10-6 in their opening match in Riyadh.
The 2024 finalists are 29-5 on the year with the highest win percentage (85%) among the top 8 field 💯
The 2024 finalists are 29-5 on the year with the highest win percentage (85%) among the top 8 field 💯
Defending champs Gaby Dabrowski & Erin Routliffe are the longest standing doubles team at the top of the game, and the only pair to make 3 consecutive WTA Finals.
They would be the 1st team to successfully defend this title since Babos/Mladenovic in 2018-2019.
thetennistribe.com/2025-wta-fin...
They would be the 1st team to successfully defend this title since Babos/Mladenovic in 2018-2019.
thetennistribe.com/2025-wta-fin...
2025 WTA Finals Preview: Dabrowski & Routliffe Eye Title Defense
An in-depth breakdown of the eight WTA doubles teams competing at the year-end championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
thetennistribe.com
November 2, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Defending champs Gaby Dabrowski & Erin Routliffe are the longest standing doubles team at the top of the game, and the only pair to make 3 consecutive WTA Finals.
They would be the 1st team to successfully defend this title since Babos/Mladenovic in 2018-2019.
thetennistribe.com/2025-wta-fin...
They would be the 1st team to successfully defend this title since Babos/Mladenovic in 2018-2019.
thetennistribe.com/2025-wta-fin...
No. 3 Gaby Dabrowski & Erin Routliffe open up their title defense with a 6-3, 7-6 win over No. 5 Mirra Andreeva & Diana Shnaider 💥
Gaby & Erin are the longest standing team in the field and the only pair to make 3 straight WTA Finals appearances together.
Gaby & Erin are the longest standing team in the field and the only pair to make 3 straight WTA Finals appearances together.
November 2, 2025 at 1:41 PM
No. 3 Gaby Dabrowski & Erin Routliffe open up their title defense with a 6-3, 7-6 win over No. 5 Mirra Andreeva & Diana Shnaider 💥
Gaby & Erin are the longest standing team in the field and the only pair to make 3 straight WTA Finals appearances together.
Gaby & Erin are the longest standing team in the field and the only pair to make 3 straight WTA Finals appearances together.
No. 6 Hsieh/Ostapenko outlast No. 4 Mertens/Kudermetova 1-6, 7-5, 10-5 to round out day 1 in Riyadh 🔥
Hsieh was nearly flawless in the 3rd set tiebreaker, all over the net from corner to corner. The 39-year-old is in her 6th WTA Finals appearance in the last 13 years.
Hsieh was nearly flawless in the 3rd set tiebreaker, all over the net from corner to corner. The 39-year-old is in her 6th WTA Finals appearance in the last 13 years.
November 1, 2025 at 7:49 PM
No. 6 Hsieh/Ostapenko outlast No. 4 Mertens/Kudermetova 1-6, 7-5, 10-5 to round out day 1 in Riyadh 🔥
Hsieh was nearly flawless in the 3rd set tiebreaker, all over the net from corner to corner. The 39-year-old is in her 6th WTA Finals appearance in the last 13 years.
Hsieh was nearly flawless in the 3rd set tiebreaker, all over the net from corner to corner. The 39-year-old is in her 6th WTA Finals appearance in the last 13 years.
No. 1 seeds Sara Errani & Jasmine Paolini come out of the gates strong with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-3 win over No. 8 Demi Schuurs & Asia Muhammad.
Their impressive 2025 haul includes a Roland Garros trophy, 3 masters 1000 titles, and BJK Cup win for Team Italy 🇮🇹
Their impressive 2025 haul includes a Roland Garros trophy, 3 masters 1000 titles, and BJK Cup win for Team Italy 🇮🇹
November 1, 2025 at 2:12 PM
No. 1 seeds Sara Errani & Jasmine Paolini come out of the gates strong with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-3 win over No. 8 Demi Schuurs & Asia Muhammad.
Their impressive 2025 haul includes a Roland Garros trophy, 3 masters 1000 titles, and BJK Cup win for Team Italy 🇮🇹
Their impressive 2025 haul includes a Roland Garros trophy, 3 masters 1000 titles, and BJK Cup win for Team Italy 🇮🇹
Check out our WTA Finals doubles preview breaking down a stacked final 8 field that includes:
🏆 All 4 slam champs of 2025
💯 52 combined dubs majors
👸 7 former No. 1 players
🥇 7 Olympic medalists
Will Gaby & Erin defend their title?
thetennistribe.com/2025-wta-fin...
🏆 All 4 slam champs of 2025
💯 52 combined dubs majors
👸 7 former No. 1 players
🥇 7 Olympic medalists
Will Gaby & Erin defend their title?
thetennistribe.com/2025-wta-fin...
2025 WTA Finals Preview: Dabrowski & Routliffe Eye Title Defense
An in-depth breakdown of the eight WTA doubles teams competing at the year-end championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
thetennistribe.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Check out our WTA Finals doubles preview breaking down a stacked final 8 field that includes:
🏆 All 4 slam champs of 2025
💯 52 combined dubs majors
👸 7 former No. 1 players
🥇 7 Olympic medalists
Will Gaby & Erin defend their title?
thetennistribe.com/2025-wta-fin...
🏆 All 4 slam champs of 2025
💯 52 combined dubs majors
👸 7 former No. 1 players
🥇 7 Olympic medalists
Will Gaby & Erin defend their title?
thetennistribe.com/2025-wta-fin...
In 2025, all top 4 doubles seeds at the WTA Finals split the 4 slams, won five Masters 1000s, and made the US Open semifinals in a top 4 battle:
No. 1 Errani & Paolini (RG)
No. 2 Siniakova & Townsend (AO)
No. 3 Dabrowski & Routliffe (USO)
No. 4 Kudermetova & Mertens (Wimby)
No. 1 Errani & Paolini (RG)
No. 2 Siniakova & Townsend (AO)
No. 3 Dabrowski & Routliffe (USO)
No. 4 Kudermetova & Mertens (Wimby)
October 31, 2025 at 1:10 PM
In 2025, all top 4 doubles seeds at the WTA Finals split the 4 slams, won five Masters 1000s, and made the US Open semifinals in a top 4 battle:
No. 1 Errani & Paolini (RG)
No. 2 Siniakova & Townsend (AO)
No. 3 Dabrowski & Routliffe (USO)
No. 4 Kudermetova & Mertens (Wimby)
No. 1 Errani & Paolini (RG)
No. 2 Siniakova & Townsend (AO)
No. 3 Dabrowski & Routliffe (USO)
No. 4 Kudermetova & Mertens (Wimby)
Elise Mertens, 5x slam champ and former No. 1, has now qualified for the WTA Finals 7 years in a row with 5 different partners:
2018: Demi Schuurs
2019: Aryna Sabalenka
2021: Hsieh Su-Wei
2022: Veronika Kudermetova
2023: Storm Hunter
2024: Hsieh x 2
2025: Kudermetova x 2
Wow.
2018: Demi Schuurs
2019: Aryna Sabalenka
2021: Hsieh Su-Wei
2022: Veronika Kudermetova
2023: Storm Hunter
2024: Hsieh x 2
2025: Kudermetova x 2
Wow.
October 30, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Elise Mertens, 5x slam champ and former No. 1, has now qualified for the WTA Finals 7 years in a row with 5 different partners:
2018: Demi Schuurs
2019: Aryna Sabalenka
2021: Hsieh Su-Wei
2022: Veronika Kudermetova
2023: Storm Hunter
2024: Hsieh x 2
2025: Kudermetova x 2
Wow.
2018: Demi Schuurs
2019: Aryna Sabalenka
2021: Hsieh Su-Wei
2022: Veronika Kudermetova
2023: Storm Hunter
2024: Hsieh x 2
2025: Kudermetova x 2
Wow.
I could easily see Alexander Bublik (15th in the ATP Finals race yet still a chance to qualify) coming out of nowhere to win the Paris Masters event and grab the last spot for Turin. It would be verryyyy on brand for him.
October 29, 2025 at 11:05 PM
I could easily see Alexander Bublik (15th in the ATP Finals race yet still a chance to qualify) coming out of nowhere to win the Paris Masters event and grab the last spot for Turin. It would be verryyyy on brand for him.
A trio of WTA doubles veterans will make their 7th WTA Finals appearance with multiple partners:
🇨🇿 Katerina Siniakova
🇨🇦 Gaby Dabrowski
🇧🇪 Elise Mertens
Siniakova & Mertens have made 7 straight appearances while Dabrowski has qualified for 7 of the last 8, dating back to 2017.
🇨🇿 Katerina Siniakova
🇨🇦 Gaby Dabrowski
🇧🇪 Elise Mertens
Siniakova & Mertens have made 7 straight appearances while Dabrowski has qualified for 7 of the last 8, dating back to 2017.
October 29, 2025 at 2:26 AM
A trio of WTA doubles veterans will make their 7th WTA Finals appearance with multiple partners:
🇨🇿 Katerina Siniakova
🇨🇦 Gaby Dabrowski
🇧🇪 Elise Mertens
Siniakova & Mertens have made 7 straight appearances while Dabrowski has qualified for 7 of the last 8, dating back to 2017.
🇨🇿 Katerina Siniakova
🇨🇦 Gaby Dabrowski
🇧🇪 Elise Mertens
Siniakova & Mertens have made 7 straight appearances while Dabrowski has qualified for 7 of the last 8, dating back to 2017.
Three big doubles wins for Americans this past week 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
1. Nicole Melichar won her 17th WTA title in Ningbo w/ Samsonova.
2. Evan King & Christian Harrison won in Brussels, holding onto the No. 8 spot in ATP Finals race.
3. Rob Galloway won his 3rd ATP title in Stockholm.
1. Nicole Melichar won her 17th WTA title in Ningbo w/ Samsonova.
2. Evan King & Christian Harrison won in Brussels, holding onto the No. 8 spot in ATP Finals race.
3. Rob Galloway won his 3rd ATP title in Stockholm.
October 20, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Three big doubles wins for Americans this past week 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
1. Nicole Melichar won her 17th WTA title in Ningbo w/ Samsonova.
2. Evan King & Christian Harrison won in Brussels, holding onto the No. 8 spot in ATP Finals race.
3. Rob Galloway won his 3rd ATP title in Stockholm.
1. Nicole Melichar won her 17th WTA title in Ningbo w/ Samsonova.
2. Evan King & Christian Harrison won in Brussels, holding onto the No. 8 spot in ATP Finals race.
3. Rob Galloway won his 3rd ATP title in Stockholm.
Feels like Katerina Siniakova may be conducting doubles partner auditions this fall for the 2026 season…
✅ Qualifies for WTA Finals w/ Townsend
✅ Wins Korea 500 title w/ Krejcikova
✅ Wins Wuhan 1000 title w/ Hunter
🤞🏻 Enters Ningbo as top seed w/ Hsieh
✅ Qualifies for WTA Finals w/ Townsend
✅ Wins Korea 500 title w/ Krejcikova
✅ Wins Wuhan 1000 title w/ Hunter
🤞🏻 Enters Ningbo as top seed w/ Hsieh
October 12, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Feels like Katerina Siniakova may be conducting doubles partner auditions this fall for the 2026 season…
✅ Qualifies for WTA Finals w/ Townsend
✅ Wins Korea 500 title w/ Krejcikova
✅ Wins Wuhan 1000 title w/ Hunter
🤞🏻 Enters Ningbo as top seed w/ Hsieh
✅ Qualifies for WTA Finals w/ Townsend
✅ Wins Korea 500 title w/ Krejcikova
✅ Wins Wuhan 1000 title w/ Hunter
🤞🏻 Enters Ningbo as top seed w/ Hsieh
Katerina Siniakova and Hsieh Su-Wei, the two most accomplished doubles players of this generation and longtime rivals, are teaming up together this week as the top seeds in Ningbo. This should be fun 🍿
October 12, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Katerina Siniakova and Hsieh Su-Wei, the two most accomplished doubles players of this generation and longtime rivals, are teaming up together this week as the top seeds in Ningbo. This should be fun 🍿
Coco said she has to bring an extra suitcase home for all of the nice gifts she has received from Chinese fans. Asia seems like a nice post-USO therapy for her to relax and regroup away from the stressors of NYC. Loves the energy here.
October 12, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Coco said she has to bring an extra suitcase home for all of the nice gifts she has received from Chinese fans. Asia seems like a nice post-USO therapy for her to relax and regroup away from the stressors of NYC. Loves the energy here.
So do Coco and Jess go home now to rest and train for WTA Finals? No need for more tournament play with the 1000s behind us.
October 12, 2025 at 12:23 PM
So do Coco and Jess go home now to rest and train for WTA Finals? No need for more tournament play with the 1000s behind us.
Safe to say the American women are having a moment in 2025. It’s got to be the best year for U.S. women’s tennis as a whole since the early-mid 2000s?
2 slam winners, 2x slam finalists, multiple 1000s titles, and 4 of the top 8 qualifying for WTA Finals. Wowww 🇺🇸
2 slam winners, 2x slam finalists, multiple 1000s titles, and 4 of the top 8 qualifying for WTA Finals. Wowww 🇺🇸
October 11, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Safe to say the American women are having a moment in 2025. It’s got to be the best year for U.S. women’s tennis as a whole since the early-mid 2000s?
2 slam winners, 2x slam finalists, multiple 1000s titles, and 4 of the top 8 qualifying for WTA Finals. Wowww 🇺🇸
2 slam winners, 2x slam finalists, multiple 1000s titles, and 4 of the top 8 qualifying for WTA Finals. Wowww 🇺🇸
Learning about Jess Pegula’s “Big Rich” and Emma Navarro’s “Little Rich” nicknames from Chinese fans plus seeing Pegula’s reaction has been a highlight of the Asian swing so far for me 💯
September 27, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Learning about Jess Pegula’s “Big Rich” and Emma Navarro’s “Little Rich” nicknames from Chinese fans plus seeing Pegula’s reaction has been a highlight of the Asian swing so far for me 💯