Briton gives tennis authorities both barrels after winning Wimbledon doubles

Henry Patten lamented that the tennis authorities see the doubles game as “a pain in the a--” after he became the first British player to win two men’s doubles titles at Wimbledon since World War Two.

Patten, who hails from Colchester, clinched a 7-6, 7-6 victory with his Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara in the final to regain the title that the pair won in 2024. But Patten said that doubles remains marginalised on the professional tennis circuit. He urged the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which runs the men’s tour, to do far more to promote the format.

“If you look at, for example, the ATP Tour’s Instagram page on [doubles] semi-final day, there was no men’s singles matches that day, but there were no posts about doubles. I don’t see why that is,” Patten said.

“It’s difficult. I think it really requires a big cultural shift and a change in culture of the ATP, which is obviously a difficult thing to change in any organisation. But I just wish they had more of a growth mindset rather than seeing it purely as a pain in the a--, which is what it seems like at the moment. It’s really difficult to change that. But I feel optimistic that we will be able to change it.”

Patten said that the strong crowds throughout his campaign, which culminated with him clinching the title with an ace, showed the support that existed among tennis fans for the doubles game. He urged other tournaments to follow Wimbledon’s lead in showcasing it more prominently.

“There’s like this very strong narrative that the product itself just isn’t good enough. I don’t think that’s true. I think we’ve kind of proven that to be wrong,” he said.

“Wimbledon plays a huge part in that. People come to Wimbledon to watch tennis, whether it’s singles, doubles, wheelchair singles, wheelchair doubles, juniors, exhibition. I feel strongly that doubles can play a strong part in that and can help the ATP Tour grow the game. I think that’s what we should be focused on. No more infighting. It doesn’t help anyone.”

Patten said there was sufficient money in professional tennis to keep the doubles circuit vibrant.

“Let’s focus on growth and investing in the sport and creating more opportunities for people from different backgrounds. I really care strongly about that.

“Taking away doubles isn’t going to help the poorer kids or the kids who are far away from tennis centres or the kids who can only play twice a week. We should be encouraging people from all different backgrounds to play tennis and feel that they can make a living out of tennis. We should be growing that.”

Patten is hoping to have conversations with senior figures on the ATP Tour in the coming weeks to discuss how the doubles game can be better supported. Ideas that he has suggested include doubles players being enlisted to play pro-am events with amateur players and playing with sponsors.

“We’re hoping to set up some meetings. That’s through the head of player relations at the ATP,” he said.

“I asked for the contact details of the tournament directors of the ATP. I’d really like to speak to them, see if they have any ideas, see how doubles players can bring value to them outside of just playing doubles matches, whether that’s pro-ams, playing with sponsors, other things.

“I’m optimistic that those meetings will happen with time. A small group of doubles players, hopefully be able to sit down and meet with the higher-ups, as it were. I hope that will happen, but it hasn’t happened yet. We’re trying.”

Patten’s moment of history was missed by his fiancée, who was working a shift as a doctor. “She definitely would have been watching, at least following as much as she can,” he said. “She’s unbelievably talented and is the brains of the relationship.”

Patten and Heliovaara have won three grand-slam titles together, with this triumph against El Salvador’s Marcelo Arévalo and Croatia’s Mate Pavic joining those at Wimbledon in 2024 and the Australian Open in 2025. No one on either side was broken on serve all match, but the pair clinched victory with two fine tie-breaks and celebrated by falling to their knees on Centre Court.

“There’s a moment where everything feels like it’s in slow motion, and everything is silent,” Patten recalled of his ace. “And then the crowd realises and you realise. Then it kind of erupts.”

After winning his second Wimbledon title, the 30-year-old hopes that he will be rewarded with membership of the All England Club.

“I’d love one – it seems like quite a nice club,” he said with a smile. “I’d love to. If they let me in, I’ll take it.”