Best doubles players

Hi Alois

I was just watching some professional doubles table tennis on youtube and (as often happens when I watch youtube) a question popped into my head.

In tennis, the best singles players are not necessarily the best doubles players, and sometimes the best doubles team is made of players who are not particularly noted for their singles play (like the Australian woodies).

How about in table tennis?  Would a team of Ma Long and Timo Boll necessarily beat any doubles team of players ranked say mid 50s?  When they have doubles tournaments, is it always won by dominant singles players?  Are there any doubles specialists out there who never have success in singles? 

And if table tennis is different from tennis in this regard.  What do you think are the reasons?

Curious

Ji-Soo

Hi Ji-Soo,

In general the best singles players tend to be the best doubles players as well.  There are a few exceptions of course. One that comes to mind is the combination of Schlager with Jindrak.  While Sclager was one of the best, Jindrak was not highly ranked in singles. 

In Table Tennis there doesn't need ot be as much understanding between the two players as you have to take it in turns to hit the ball. 

I would back Ma Long and Boll against the 50 and 51st ranked players in the world.