Simon Aspelin of Sweden and Paul Hanley of Australia joined forces early in the spring of 2009. In their first tournament together in Casablanca, they finished runner-up to Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach. Their first ATP World Tour title as a team, came in July of 2009 at the International German Open in Hamburg over Brazilian-Slovakian pair, Marcelo Melo and Filip Polasek. Since then, the duo has claimed one other title, earlier this year in Dubai and has finished runner up in Stockholm and Rotterdam.
Aspelin and Hanley are currently ranked 28th and 29th on the 2010 ATP Doubles Team Rankings and in their prolific doubles careers, hold thirty-five ATP titles. The two players possess a very good balance in their games and in their personalities. Simon is the bigger server, with a calm and cool demeanor. Paul is the stronger volleyer and shows more emotions on the court. Now coached by four time ATP doubles champion, Ashley Fisher, the duo sets their sites on the 2010 US Open. At the 2007 US Open, with Austrian partner Julian Knowle, Aspelin won his first and only Grand Slam doubles title. At 36 years of age, not much would be sweeter for the Swede, then a second US Open title.
Even with the team’s recent success and rise in the ATP doubles rankings, Coach Fisher still believes that the duo can improve by being more aggressive and taking more chances. To catch some of the best behind the scenes footage of Aspelin and Hanley and all the players on the tour, check out Ashley Fisher’s site at www.tennis-update.com.
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