Former Tiger tennis stars work together on the pro doubles tour

In the sport of tennis, the singles game is just that.

Hour upon hour out there on the court against an opponent can be a lonely affair.

In contrast, doubles is all about team coordination, communication and understanding. Both players have to know what they are doing, both on the court and when, and be able to anticipate the same from their partner. This game requires a synchronicity that can appear, in its highest form, like a sixth sense.

The Skupski brothers, Ken and Neal, tap into this awareness. It’s their daily goal. Born in Liverpool, England, both attended LSU—but six years apart, so their college careers did not overlap. Individually, though, they achieved stellar results for the university.

But they have never competed together on the court—until now.

At 30, Ken is the older brother, a six-time All-American who won 107 matches for the Tigers. Since 2010, he has played with various partners and been ranked as high as 44th in the world. When Neal graduated last year, the brothers finally became a team. Among U.S. universities, LSU now has the most former players on the pro tour—including James Cluskey and Mike Venus.

Neal gets high praise from Ken, who says the 24-year-old just might be more talented than he is. High praise from any older sibling. Competing in Grand Slams like the U.S. Open and Wimbledon is the Skupskis’ next goal. Ken says they are ahead of schedule to make that a reality. The new duo managed to surprise many by notching five tournament wins in their first year together, including a spectacular run that brought them to the finals of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

“I think confidence and momentum is vital for a team to be successful,” Neal says, “and that’s what Ken and I found toward the end of last year.”

Recently, 225 caught up with the brothers at the Irving ATP Challenger held just outside of Dallas at the Four Seasons Hotel and Resort. The first day, a practice, found the Skupskis on court for an hour or so. Ken played the part of older brother and player-coach, instructing Neal on what to do in certain situations. The next day, in the first round, the brothers faced a wild-card entry. They won their match handily, 6-3, 6-4.

Their second-round match would prove more challenging as they squared off against the Australian team of Chris “Gucc” Guccione and Sam Groth. Tall, fast and strong, these Aussies are tough competitors. Groth has one of the fastest serves in the game, recently clocked at 162 mph.

The brothers fought hard but lost a tight first set in a tiebreaker. Losing a set in a tiebreaker can be demoralizing because a team can gain the upper hand so quickly or lose it just as fast. The second set found the Skupskis trailing 2-5, but they again worked hard, fighting to get back on serve to 4-5. In the end, it wasn’t enough. They lost 4-6.

“We had our chances,” Ken said, somewhat philosophically, after the match. “It could have gone either way.”

On this day, at this tournament, the brothers came up short. But Ken knows the dedication and discipline it will take to get him and Neal into the world’s top tournaments. In 2009, with partner Colin Fleming, Ken defeated the top-ranked doubles team of Mike and Bob Bryan.

Off the court, the brothers say that being so close means they can be open and honest with each other about what happens on it. A lifelong bond and direct communication can only bolster their game and enhance this adventure they are sharing together.

“Traveling the world and doing something that we both love, as a job?” Neal says. “There’s no downside to that.”