A Partnership Forged in Acapulco

As many life partners can attest, a successful relationship isn't always built on instant attraction. The same holds true for doubles partnerships in tennis. Henry Patten, the British number one in doubles, and Harri Heliovaara from Finland have proven that sometimes, it’s the second chance that makes all the difference.

The Turning Point "To put it in dating terms, we weren't particularly happy about how our relationships were going in the doubles world at the start of last year," Patten recalled. The two were in Acapulco, discussing the possibility of teaming up. Initially, Heliovaara said no. But after a series of disappointing results, he had a change of heart. "Then I think he had one bad result too many and said 'screw it, let's just do it'," Patten added.

Immediate Success Their partnership took off immediately. In their first tournament together, they won an ATP title in Marrakech. The victories kept coming, culminating in the Wimbledon men's doubles title. Now, nine months into their partnership, they are one of the leading teams in the world and are set to face Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the Australian Open final.

Complementary Styles and Shared Histories

The key to their success lies in their complementary styles of play and a natural rapport. Patten’s power pairs perfectly with Heliovaara’s touch. Both players have taken unconventional paths to the top. Patten studied finance in the U.S. and worked as a data analyst at Wimbledon in 2016. Heliovaara, on the other hand, stopped playing professionally in 2013 due to an autoimmune disease but made a comeback after working in finance and at an airport.

Strengthening Bonds Through Finnish Culture

Their friendship deepened when Patten visited Helsinki in October for a week of training. Staying with Heliovaara and his family, Patten immersed himself in Finnish culture. After intense training sessions, Heliovaara treated Patten to some home-cooked meals, including his specialty—reindeer stew. "He told me about halfway through that he was cooking it, so I was a little nervous about the outcome," Patten joked. "It was very good. I was very complimentary and he was very complimentary about his own cooking."

Looking Ahead

Their stable partnership, built on mutual respect and a sense of humor, gives them a head start against the many new men’s pairings this season. The duo aims for another Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and a spot in the world’s top 10 with greater consistency on the ATP Tour. "Everyone else is scrambling a little bit and not knowing how these partnerships are going to go," Patten said. "Ours is a partnership which we know works and can be very effective."

Their journey from initial doubts to becoming one of the most successful doubles teams in the world is a testament to the power of perseverance, teamwork, and a good sense of humor.