Top rated Argentina duo Gaston Etlis and Martin Rodriguez have formed a strong bond. Picture / Richard Robinson

Top rated Argentina duo Gaston Etlis and Martin Rodriguez have formed a strong bond. Picture / Richard Robinson

Here's three popular notions about doubles tennis: It's not taken seriously; it's not played by the world's best racquet wielders; and there's no money in it.

Well, think again.

To those who earn their corn on the doubles circuit it's serious indeed.

With some exceptions, the world's leading singles players dabble in the pairs event and generally enjoy it.

In his prime, John McEnroe was not only the world's best singles player but also the finest doubles operator, as 67 doubles titles suggest.

And as for the money, just ask Todd Woodbridge.

The 33-year-old Australian last year took his earnings past US$10 million ($14.1 million). A staggering 82 doubles crowns sit alongside two singles titles and his 16 Grand Slam doubles triumphs are an Open era record.

Now think of world No 1 doubles exponent Mark Knowles of the Bahamas. The 33-year-old, who didn't get higher than No 96 in singles and didn't win a singles title, has won more than $US4.3 million from doubles, with 35 titles. He played 27 doubles tournaments last year, no singles.

Tomorrow afternoon the doubles finalists in the Heineken Open will square off for a US$16,500 winners cheque, which they will split.

That pales by comparison with the singles money. The Open champion will pocket US$55,000.

But it is possible to make a good living out of the team game.

Argentine Gaston Etlis is the world No 17 doubles player. He never rose higher than 114 in singles, has three doubles and no singles titles, and has won over US$1.4 million.

Then there's American Jim Thomas, who won the Auckland doubles crown in 2001 with South African Marius Barnard.

Like Etlis, Thomas also has three doubles titles to his name, didn't get close to a singles crown and has over US$419,000 in winnings.

Etlis and Thomas, both 30, are serious about their doubles. Etlis and his Argentine partner, Martin Rodriguez, world No 15 in doubles, played Thomas and Chilean Fernando Gonzalez in a quarter-final yesterday, both preparing for next week's Australian Open.

In a tight match Gonzalez and Thomas won through 7-5 7-6 (7-4).

Etlis, who switched his focus from singles to doubles about three years ago, said the key to being successful at doubles was mental rather than physical.