French Open champions decide to team up at Wimbledon

Ryan Harrison of the U.S. and Michael Venus of New Zealand, left, hold the trophy after winning the men's doubles final match of the French Open. Photo / AP

French Open champions Kiwi Michael Venus and his American partner Ryan Harrison have agreed to team up together for the grass court season leading into Wimbledon.

Harrison had originally decided not to play doubles at Wimbledon due to it being played over best of five sets. Harrison is ranked 41 in singles and felt long doubles matches would hamper his chances of success in the singles.

Venus was scheduled to play with Brazilian Andre Sa for the grass court season but will now play just the one tournament with the 40-year-old.

With their unimaginable success, Venus and Harrison have rocketed up to five in the race for a spot in the ATP World Tour doubles finals in London in November. The top eight teams qualify for the year end championships. The opportunity to chase a place was too good to turn down.

So after Venus defends his S-Hertgotenbosch title in the Netherlands this week with Sa, the pair will go their separate ways.

Harrison and Venus will play the Queens Club tournament in London, Eastbourne and Wimbledon. They will then assess how they are going and make a decision about the North American hard court season with big Masters 1000 tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati ahead of the US Open.

Venus has risen to 15 in the latest doubles rankings while Harrison is up to 30.

Venus has been given a Wednesday start with Sa at the ATP tournament in S-Hertgotenbosch. Ironically he will play against Indians Purav Raja and Divij Sharan, the players who served for the match against Venus and Harrison in the third round at the French Open.

Matt Brown was at the French Open thanks to Emirates Airline