Battle for tennis honour

CAN doubles achievements be compared favourably with strong results in singles?

We will know tonight at the Newcombe Medal presentation what Tennis Australia’s judges think when they decide between Australian Open doubles champion John Peers and the feel-good singles success story Ash Barty for the country’s premier award.

Peers won five ATP titles with Finnish doubles partner Henri Kontinen, including the Australian Open and the ATP Finals, hitting a career-high doubles ranking of No.2.

Barty, 21, went from No.272 to No.17 to become Australia’s top-ranked singles player, making three WTA finals and taking out her first tour singles crown, in Kuala Lumpur.