Nadine Francesca is one of the few players in the world to have gained multiple championships in the same weight class (and same age), and also a two-time Olympic gold medalist. She has held the ranking of No. 8 in the WTA for seven consecutive years, and is the second-oldest player in the entire sport behind Pete Sampras. It seems fitting that Nadine would be paired with Patrick McEnroe, who is at least twenty years her junior, as they represent the height of professional tennis. While some might question the wisdom of pairing a twenty-year-old with a player who is only in their mid-thirties, there are several reasons why this pairing makes sense.
First, it is important to remember that while tennis is mostly an individual sport when you’re playing on your own, the sport benefits from a tandem that works as a team. Being tall and athletic is a key quality in being a great all-around player, and the shorter players often have a harder time playing against, not to mention the lack of space on the court. While Nadine is talented on her own, she might not be as successful if she was playing with someone who is simply not as gifted. When you pair her with a player who is taller, or who is capable of reaching those difficult shots, they will compensate for the short height difference and increase their overall athleticism, which will translate into higher sportsmanship on the court.
Also, both players have the ability to hit the ball at an above-average rate, which is important to a top player. While Nadine is able to overpower her opponents at the point of attack thanks to her height advantage, Patrick is able to block shots off the baseline thanks to his height. This gives them a distinct advantage over many of the other women in their age group. The combination of their height difference and their combined athleticism makes them a natural fit as partners in the WTA’s top division.