Tennis
Tennis singles vs. doubles: Which game style suits you better?
Read ahead for a guide to tennis doubles vs. singles, including strategy, technique, and which style you might excel at the most.
For tennis star Reilly Opelka, playing singles tennis is a special thrill. As he told Red Bull, battling it out on his own is the best part of being on the tennis court.
“As a competitor, as someone who plays a one-on-one sport especially, tennis is the ultimate meritocracy,” he says. “It really is. It’s one-on-one and you really feel it all.”
Reilly Opelka
© Matthias Heschl/Red Bull Content Pool
If putting the weight of competition entirely on your shoulders isn’t your thing, though, don’t count tennis out just yet. Both singles and doubles tennis have their own sets of advantages and disadvantages. Whether you prefer tackling a match alone — like at Red Bull Bassline — or playing with a partner, practicing both styles can benefit your overall game.
01
Singles tennis
Playing singles in tennis means that individual competitors face off in a one-on-one battle on the court. In singles tennis, you cover the 27-foot wide court by yourself across three or five sets. This means that your groundstrokes need to be strong and steady after the ball bounces on your side of the court. A solid singles tennis strategy emphasizes power and momentum in each shot.
The rules of singles tennis allow you to serve from either side of the court, which is great if you have a favorite serving spot. If you love a fast-paced challenge and taking the lead all on your own, singles tennis might be a great fit for you.
Venue of the ATP Tour 2019 in Vienna, Austria on October 22, 2019
© Alexander Schwarz / Red Bull Content Pool
02
Doubles tennis
Doubles matches consist of two teams of two players. Most doubles matches are single-gender, but mixed-gender doubles matches do exist.
In doubles tennis, one team member serves while the other receives, and these roles stay the same throughout the game. If you’re serving, you must do so from the court’s right side, while your teammate is stationed on the left.
Like singles tennis, most doubles matches are played to the best out of three sets. Since there are two players to cover the court, a doubles court is a bit wider than a singles court at 36 feet. Doubles tennis may nevertheless require slightly less physical effort since you don’t have to constantly run from one side of the court to the other. Of course, though, that doesn’t mean you can relax and let your guard down.
Doubles tennis strategy is much more about accuracy and refinement than with singles. That said, your partner may be able to compensate if you have any weaknesses on the court. When you work together, you might be more likely to get the ball over the net.
03
Great moments in singles tennis history
Singles matches are trials of endurance, and no event displayed that better than one of the longest matches in singles tennis history. The 2012 Australian Open men’s final featured Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, that year’s two top-rated Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) players.
As the match wore on into the wee hours of the morning, fans got to witness a test of physical strength and mental toughness. It took a whopping five hours and 53 minutes before Djokovic was named champion just before 2 a.m. Both players got to walk away with the honor of being part of what some call the greatest singles match in tennis history.
Red Bull Thiem Set Match 2020 in Bruck an der Mur, Austria
© Christopher Kelemen / Red Bull Content Pool
04
Great moments in doubles tennis history
Serena and Venus Williams may have had a great family rivalry as singles players, but they also made quite a team on the doubles court. Together, they’ve claimed 22 titles, including 14 major championship wins. Their 14th and final Grand Slam win happened at Wimbledon 2016 in the women’s doubles finals against Tímea Babos and Yaroslava Shvedova.
Babos and Shvedova brought their A-game to the first two sets, but it wasn’t enough to beat the legendary Williams sisters. Serena’s backhand volley, in particular, helped the sisters take the lead. In a final score of 6-3, 6-4, the Williams sisters were crowned champions, as they celebrated their 14-0 Grand Slam doubles record.
05
Choosing the right game style
Each type of tennis requires its own unique skill set. However, many notable professional tennis players, such as Opelka, alternate between the two. You might excel more in one discipline, but trying your hand at the other could help you become a more well-rounded tennis player. That said, below are some of the factors that might lead you to prefer singles tennis over doubles, or vice versa.
- Fitness and endurance level. Can you handle a long run of high-powered cardio? If you love an intense workout, singles tennis could be for you.
- Variety vs. repetition. In singles tennis, you have to be ready for anything. In doubles, though, you can concentrate on one role. If your serve needs some work, a doubles match offers some reprieve during games where your partner is serving.
- Your best shot. In addition to a powerful and strong groundstroke, drop shots are key to outwitting your opponent in singles tennis. On the other hand, volleys and overheads give you a greater advantage in a doubles tennis match.
- Team strategy. If you love the flow of working with a partner with whom you can be perfectly in sync, doubles tennis may suit your preferences. If you don’t want to coordinate with another player, though, singles tennis may suit you better.
06
Tennis strategy and training
Andrey Rublev plays during Red Bull Bassline 2023 in Madrid, Spain
© Charly López / Red Bull Content Pool
Training for singles tennis:
A strong singles tennis strategy is all about outwitting your opponent. You don’t want them to know your next move, so the element of surprise is key. For example, if you’ve been delivering strong forehand shots through the first set, throw your opponent off with a surprise backhand shot. Hoping to pierce through their mental toughness so they make a mistake? Charging the net is a great tactic.
One of the best ways to prepare for match day is to practice drills that improve your singles tennis strategy. If you struggle playing on the left side of the court, practice only hitting from that side. If you’ve got one strong shot, step out of your comfort zone and play with the rule that no type of shot is permitted twice. The more range you can develop during practice, the more ready you’ll be when it really counts.
Training for doubles tennis:
In doubles, you and your partner depend on each other, so clear communication is essential. That said, you can’t talk to your partner in the heat of a game — hand signals are your best friend instead. Make sure you’re clear on your signals with your partner before match time.
Additionally, although you can’t always predict the opposing team’s move, writing out a game plan ahead of a match can help. Try mapping out strategies that play to your strengths and address common scenarios.
It’s also important to get into a good rhythm with your partner, and practice drills are great for strengthening your dynamic on the court. Start with simple drills like double ping-pong, in which you and your partner hit the ball back and forth to each other on a wall. These drills are a great way to establish your flow on the court.
Doubles, singles, or both
Your own tennis playing style may be a better fit for singles or doubles tennis, but don’t write off one type over the other. If you want to reach your full tennis potential, incorporating both styles will improve your game. That’s true whether you’re alone or with a partner: Master it all, and there’s nothing off-limits to you on the court.