Doubles Take: AO top seeds in action

Doubles play kicks off today, and here’s a look at three matches that get the Doubles Take stamp of approval as ones to watch.

(1) Latisha Chan/Andrea Hlavackova vs. Xinyun Han/Chen Liang: The No. 1 seeds have had a solid start to 2018, their first year playing together, with a semifinal in Brisbane and a runner-up finish in Sydney. They’re facing a couple of veterans in Han and Liang, but should come through without too much trouble.

(5) Jamie Murray/Bruno Soares vs. Frances Tiafoe/Donald Young: The entertainment value should be high in this one. The 2016 Australian Open champs are taking on two Americans much better known for their singles play. Young does have some Grand Slam success in doubles, reaching the final of the French Open last year.

Superb shot-making should be on display. Soares has already shown he’s in midseason form, as evidenced in Doha, where he and Murray reached the final.

(2) Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnina vs. Eugenie Bouchard/Sloane Stephens

The Russians have won every big title in the book—except for the Australian Open. They have a potentially tricky opener against Bouchard and Stephens. The Canadian/American duo—who each are thinking singles about 99 percent of the time—have actually had some success together, reaching the final in Washington last summer. Stephens could be looking to make a statement after her disappointing singles run of late.

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