WIMBLEDON — Henry Patten, the reigning Wimbledon men's doubles champion alongside Harri Heliovaara, says he is perfectly content flying under the radar despite his Grand Slam success. The British-Finnish duo, who triumphed in a thrilling final last year, are set to defend their title with Patten embracing the anonymity that comes with being a doubles specialist.
In an exclusive interview ahead of this year's Championships, the 28-year-old British player reflected on his unexpected rise to the pinnacle of doubles tennis. "I've always been OK about not being recognised," Patten said with a laugh. "Doubles doesn't get the same attention as singles, and that's fine by me. It allows me to focus on what matters - the tennis."
From College Tennis to Wimbledon Glory
Patten's journey to Wimbledon champion was anything but conventional. After playing college tennis at UNC Asheville in the United States, he turned professional in 2018 but initially struggled to make an impact on the ATP Tour. It wasn't until he teamed up with Heliovaara in 2023 that his career truly took off.
The pair's chemistry was immediate, winning three ATP Tour titles before their fairytale run at Wimbledon. "Harri and I complement each other perfectly," Patten explained. "He's got the big serve and aggressive net play, while I focus on consistency and placement. It just clicked from our first tournament together."
The Joys of Doubles Tennis
Patten is passionate about defending the doubles game, which often plays second fiddle to singles in terms of media coverage and fan interest. He points out several unique aspects that make doubles special:
- The faster pace and more frequent net play
- The importance of teamwork and communication
- The strategic complexity of positioning and shot selection
- The camaraderie between partners
"People who say doubles isn't as demanding as singles haven't played high-level doubles," Patten asserted. "The reflexes you need, the split-second decisions, the way you have to anticipate your opponent's moves while coordinating with your partner - it's a completely different challenge."
Preparing for the Title Defense
As they prepare to return to the All England Club, Patten and Heliovaara have been fine-tuning their game on grass. The defending champions have adopted a business-as-usual approach, despite the added pressure that comes with being title holders.
"We're treating it like any other tournament in terms of preparation," Patten revealed. "Of course there's more attention and expectations, but our routine hasn't changed. We know what worked last year and we're building on that."
Grass Court Adjustments
The pair have been working specifically on adapting their game to grass court conditions, which present unique challenges for doubles specialists:
- Lower bounces requiring quicker reflexes
- Faster surface demanding sharper volleys
- Importance of serve placement over power
- Need for precise poaching at the net
Life After Wimbledon Success
Since their Wimbledon triumph, Patten and Heliovaara have become regulars in the latter stages of ATP Tour events. They reached the semifinals of the Australian Open earlier this year and have climbed to No. 12 in the ATP doubles rankings.
Yet Patten insists his daily life hasn't changed dramatically. "I still get to walk down the street without being recognized most days," he said. "That's one of the nice things about doubles - you can have success while maintaining a relatively normal life."
The Future of Doubles Tennis
Patten is optimistic about the future of doubles, pointing to initiatives like the ATP's "Doubles Revolution" which aims to make the discipline more fan-friendly and accessible. He believes the format has untapped potential to attract new audiences to tennis.
"Doubles offers everything that makes tennis exciting - fast action, incredible reflexes, and amazing teamwork," Patten said. "I'd love to see more tournaments experimenting with formats that showcase these qualities to fans."
Conclusion: Content in the Shadows
As he prepares to walk onto Centre Court as defending champion, Patten remains refreshingly grounded about his place in the tennis world. "I'm just happy to be playing the sport I love at the highest level," he reflected. "Whether people recognize me or not doesn't change how special it is to compete at Wimbledon with Harri by my side."
With their combination of skill, chemistry and unflappable temperament, Patten and Heliovaara will be among the favorites to lift the trophy again. And if they do, don't expect Patten to mind if he still goes unnoticed at his local coffee shop the next day.