When Travis Parrott glanced at the doubles draw last week, the
first name he looked for was his ex.
Parrott, who has had a number of partners while on the tour, was
coming off a four-month relationship with Rick Leach and
couldn’t help but wonder whether he would see his former
teammate on the court.
On Saturday afternoon, the two stood on opposite sides of the
net, each accompanied by a new significant other at the
Mercedes-Benz Cup.
“It is really weird,” Parrott’s coach, Aaron
Gross, said. “A couple months from now, they won’t
think anything of it, but the first tournament can be a little
uncomfortable. They’re good friends.”
First dates. Road trips. Long conversations during changeovers.
Breakups.
It’s all part of the everyday lifestyle for doubles
specialists on the tennis circuit.
I had always been curious as to how these players met each other
““ and why most couples last about as long as those spawned at
a Thursday night frat party.
Three of the duos that reached the quarterfinals of the
Mercedes-Benz Cup had never played together before, and chances
are, they won’t be sharing signals in the distant future.
Chemistry is an elusive object in doubles, one that leaves players
constantly looking for the perfect match and seldom ever finding
it. With a range of playing styles in tennis, finding two that gel
isn’t as simple as solving an algebra equation.
“It’s pretty tough,” said Parrott, who teamed
up with Jordan Kerr this past week. “I’ve found a lot
of partners who I work well with on a short-term basis, but
I’m looking for a guy I can play with for a couple years at a
time.”
A couple years ago, I naively thought Parrott had found Mr.
Right when he paired with Jan Michael Gambill to win the
Mercedes-Benz Cup title. The two seemed so happy together, talking
about their plans for next week’s event and possibly the U.S.
Open later that summer. But Gambill, once recognized as one of
People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People, didn’t
appear to be interested in long-term commitment. He had made a name
for himself riding solo and wasn’t willing to be tied down by
a steady relationship.
“It’s a gamble playing with singles guys because
they’re set financially,” Gross said.
“They’re not necessarily the ones you trust.
They’re great players, but when your livelihood is running on
it, you need some one who is there week in, week out.”
And so the doubles specialists often search within their own
clique for someone they’ll click with. Parrott trains with a
group that includes Kerr, Graydon Oliver and Jared Palmer, who
he’ll pair up with at the Legg Mason Classic this upcoming
week.
When I found out Parrott and Kerr were splitting ways, I assumed
there might be some feelings of bitterness or disappointment. In
Saturday’s semifinals, Kerr was always there to comfort
Parrott after a missed shot. The two seemed so devoted to one
another, with each sporting a white shirt and cap complimented by
black shorts.
I wondered whether matching wristbands would have demonstrated
that missing ingredient for chemistry or commitment, but Parrott
thought it would be kind of corny. I never got the chance to find
out whether Kerr felt likewise.
Wristbands or not, Gross reassured me that there wouldn’t
be any hurt feelings when the duo had to part ways. He said that
moving on is an accepted part of the game, and that players are
always completely professional about it.
“You always want to be a courteous partner and honest
about how long you’re going to play together and where
it’s going to go,” Parrott added. “You
don’t want to abuse people or be the one-night
stand.”
It’s really quite the mirror image of life. The only
difference is that in tennis, no one wants to be stuck at love.
E-mail Finley at afinley@media.ucla.edu if your name is
Maria Sharapova and you’re looking for a mixed doubles
partner for the long haul.