So will there really be a dream team of Murray & Williams in the Mixed?
Andy Murray has said that Serena Williams would be a “solid” MixedDoubles partner at Wimbledon after the 23-time Grand Slam champion raised the possibility of an unlikely collaboration.
Murray, the two-times Singles champion at SW19, will pair with Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the Men’s Doubles as he continues to make his comeback from hip surgery, but has yet to find a partner for the Mixed.
World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty turned him down, although he has since been inundated with offers, including one from Maria Sharapova.
Williams, who is gunning for an eighth Singles title, said she was “available” and Murray, in typically dry fashion, revealed she would be an acceptable choice.
“Obviously she’s arguably the best player ever,” he said. “It would be a pretty solid partner.”
Having initially being positive about the prospect, the 37-yearold, who has been battling knee problems, went coy after she was pressed further on it.
“I’m available. I’m feeling better now, so I’m definitely available,” she said. “I mean, we just have to wait and see. I like to be tongue-in-cheek.
“Let’s see how my knee’s going. I’m finally doing good. I don’t want to go back.”
Having been at the top of the men’s game for so long, Murray appreciates he might not be able to play with someone who is focused on Singles as Williams will be.
“I’ve spoken to a number of players about playing,” he added. “Obviously the one thing with the players that are in the singles is that they may focus on singles – that’s their priority. I understand that. I appreciate that.
“If I’m going to play mixed, which is the plan, you obviously want to be playing with someone who’s going to be there for the whole event, and they’re in it to try to win matches and win the event.
“I appreciate with singles players that’s not always going to be the case.”
Meanwhile, Murray would like to see matches at Wimbledon shortened to encourage more Singles players to play Doubles.
Uniquely among the Slams, Doubles are also played over bestof-five sets at Wimbledon.
Murray said: “Beforehand you had a lot more of the top singles players that were playing the Doubles. Like when John McEnroe was playing, around that time.
“A lot of the top Doubles teams, they were pretty well known, like the Woodies (Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde) and stuff. I grew up kind of watching quite a bit of Doubles myself, too.
“I think when the top Singles players are involved in the Doubles, it does draw a little bit more attention to it. I think that will be a positive, if more guys were playing doubles.
“But here it’s difficult because of the format, the best-of-five sets. For me, even though I’m playing Doubles here, it’s even a consideration if I’m going to play mixed, as well.
“I would never expect a top Singles player to enter the Doubles here because playing potentially 10 sets in one day is just too much.
“That’s something that maybe would be worth looking at, to give more value to the Doubles event, to get more of the top Singles players playing, is to reduce the length of the matches a bit.”