Musa
Who would today’s tennis stars choose as their dream mixed doubles partner? Serve up the popcorn, because the answers are as entertaining as a fifth-set tiebreaker. In a recent round of rapid-fire interviews, ATP standouts like Ben Shelton, Casper Ruud, and others revealed which WTA icons they’d most love to share the court with—and the results are a delightful blend of admiration, nostalgia, and just a hint of cheekiness.
Ben Shelton, ever the showman with a booming serve and a flair for theatrics, didn’t hesitate to name Serena Williams as his dream partner. “Icon. Enough said,” he shrugged. Casper Ruud, on the other hand, leaned into cool chemistry, picking Coco Gauff, citing her firepower, fierce mentality, and “next-gen energy.”
Others threw in wild cards—some choosing legends like Steffi Graf for her grace, others going modern with picks like Iga Swiatek or Aryna Sabalenka for their sheer dominance.
Mixed doubles may not grab the headlines like singles, but these hypothetical pairings sparked serious buzz. Imagine Serena hammering returns off a Shelton serve. Or Ruud and Gauff running the court with synchronized precision. Dream team energy? Absolutely.
Beyond the fantasy matchups, the question revealed how deeply today’s players respect the women’s game—and just how fun tennis could be if we saw more co-ed combinations. Here’s hoping these dream duos hit the court one day, if only for an exhibition we’d all love to binge-watch.
Musa
Olaniyi Ayoola