Washington 2024 Doubles Trial Recap | ATP Tour

Doubles

Reliving Mic’d Up: Wanting again on the historic innovation in Washington

Heliovaara, Murray focus on the innovation

August 05, 2024

Sebastian Korda lifted the Mubadala Citi DC Open trophy on Sunday night for the largest title of his profession, marking the tip of a history-making week for the American.

The 24-year-old claimed his first ATP 500 crown, becoming a member of father Petr Korda on the occasion’s champions’ record. However he additionally turned one of many first 4 ATP Tour gamers to put on a reside microphone throughout a match. The innovation was a part of the 2024 ATP Tour Doubles Trial.

Korda, doubles associate Alex Michelsen, Harri Heliovaara and Jamie Murray all participated. Heliovaara, who final month gained the Wimbledon doubles title with Henry Patten, turned the primary participant to put on the reside mic in his first-round match.

The Finnish participant additionally wore in his second-round match, a loss alongside Patten. Heliovaara defined that he’s at all times joyful to do what he can to advertise doubles and the gamers, so it was a straightforward determination to take part as soon as he felt comfy with the tools.

“I feel we want personalities, extra stars within the doubles a part of this recreation and the microphones are an effective way to make that slightly simpler on court docket. I felt very comfy with the microphone, it did not trouble me in any respect, the expertise. I did not should assume something if I am saying one thing silly or not,” Heliovaara mentioned. “I’m fairly open about my tennis profession anyway so I felt very comfy with carrying the microphone.”

After watching the trial all through the week, the 35-year-old mentioned he hopes that sooner or later there might be extra cases of companions each carrying microphones. In Washington, Korda and Michelsen did it twice.

“I feel we are going to get extra dialogue that means, however we had a few matches the place we had each members of 1 staff mic’d and I feel that labored rather well. It was fascinating to listen to,” Heliovaara mentioned. “Some singles guys additionally taking part in like Korda, Michelsen, I feel that was essentially the most fascinating for me. A number of speaking, plenty of jokes, generally slightly bit extra critical, however it’s an excellent perception for the followers and I hope this trial continues.”

Murray misplaced his opening match alongside Michael Venus, however was joyful that he participated within the trial and like Heliovaara, had no points carrying the expertise.

“I feel it was a reasonably cool innovation,” Murray mentioned. “I feel that it is positively one thing that’s fascinating for followers to see the communication inside the staff, the chemistry. I feel that is a cool factor to to get throughout for the viewers at dwelling.

“I feel if there’s extra time between the factors then the broadcasters will get extra from it as a result of the gamers may have time to speak extra to not simply set performs and off you go. There might be correct communication when it comes to doubtlessly rescuing your associate, speaking about what’s really happening within the match, the ebbs and flows of the match, that kind of stuff.”

On the finish of the week, when Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow emerged victorious with the title, Event Chairman Mark Ein made it some extent to let the group know concerning the trial.

“This was the primary match ever the place we put reside mics on doubles gamers. So if you happen to watch it on TV, otherwise you watch the stream, you possibly can really take heed to the gamers speaking to one another,” Ein mentioned. “We have seen it in different sports activities. I feel it is an innovation that hopefully goes to get adopted across the tour. It brings the followers on the court docket into the motion in a means I do not assume the rest does. So I need to thank the gamers and the ATP tour for sponsoring and supporting that initiative.”