Team to Watch: Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares

There will be plenty of big names returning to the tour in 2021 and young players making their moves after an abbreviated 2020, but doubles will also take center stage. Baseline is taking a look at which teams to watch in the new year.

When Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares went their separate ways just over a year ago, it marked the end of a three-and-a-half-year run that saw them achieve many career milestones.

Two Grand Slam titles. A number-one ranking. Multiple appearances at the ATP Finals.  They established themselves as one of the toughest outs in the game—and looked good while doing so.

However, it’s rare that a great run will last more than a few years. After a first-round loss at the 2019 French Open, the duo decided to seek a fresh start apart, with Soares joining forces with Mate Pavic and Murray partnering his fellow Brit, Neal Skupski.

Pavic, a former No. 1, and Soares won the Shanghai Masters at the end of 2019, and this year, they claimed their biggest prize together, the US Open. In a shortened season, the Croatian-Brazilian duo managed to finish 2020 atop the team standings. Meanwhile, Murray and Skupski’s climb had been at a much slower pace, with one title and some solid Grand Slam runs.

Given the changing nature of doubles partnerships, those teams are no more. However, those splits are leading to a reunion as Murray and Soares are set to join forces once again.

Sometimes, a restart can lead to bigger and better things. Familiarity won’t be a problem: Back in 2016, Soares and Murray started their partnership with a 12-1 record, which included titles at Sydney and the first men’s major victory for each of them, the Australian Open.

With renewed excitement on teaming up again, expect Murray and Soares to once again challenge for the top spot in the men’s game.