The Woodies

Summary

The Woodies was the nickname given to the tennis doubles pairing of Australians Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, one of the most successful pairings in tennis history.

Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde

The Woodies combined Woodforde's left-handed baseline play with Woodbridge's right-handed net skills. They were the ATP Doubles Team of the Year five times, and won 61 ATP doubles titles. The pair won eleven major titles: one French Open, two Australian Opens, two US Opens, and a record six Wimbledons. They also won two Tour Finals titles in 1992 and 1996.

Representing Australia, the Woodies won an Olympic gold medal for Australia at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. They often played for Australia in the Davis Cup, including in three finals. In 1999, they helped Australia to its first Davis Cup victory in 13 years.

The pairing ended in 2000, when Woodforde retired from professional tennis. Woodbridge continued his doubles success with Jonas Björkman, until Björkman ended the partnership in 2004; Woodbridge then partnered with Mahesh Bhupathi of India before retiring himself in 2005.

The Woodies were inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame on Australia Day in January 2010. Their bronzed statues were placed with those of other Australian tennis greats at Melbourne Park, site of the Australian Open.

Doubles titles (61) edit

Legend
Grand Slam (11)
Tennis Masters Cup (2)
ATP Masters Series (14)
Olympic Gold (1)
ATP International Series Gold (11)
ATP Tour (22)
Titles by surface
Hard (32)
Clay (7)
Grass (10)
Carpet (12)
No. Date Tournaments Surface Opponents Score
1. 18 February 1991 Brussels, Belgium Carpet   Libor Pimek
  Michiel Schapers
6–3, 6–0
2. 11 March 1991 Copenhagen, Denmark Carpet   Mansour Bahrami
  Andrei Olhovskiy
6–3, 6–1
3. 17 June 1991 London/Queen's Club, England Grass   Grant Connell
  Glenn Michibata
6–4, 7–6
4. 30 September 1991 Brisbane, Australia Hard   John Fitzgerald
  Glenn Michibata
7–6, 6–3
5. 27 January 1992 Australian Open, Melbourne Hard   Kelly Jones
  Rick Leach
6–4, 6–3, 6–4
6. 17 February 1992 Memphis, US Hard (i)   Kevin Curren
  Gary Muller
7–5, 4–6, 7–6
7. 24 February 1992 Philadelphia, US Carpet   Jim Grabb
  Richey Reneberg
6–4, 7–6
8. 6 April 1992 Singapore Hard   Grant Connell
  Glenn Michibata
6–7, 6–2, 6–4
9. 17 August 1992 Cincinnati, US Hard   Patrick McEnroe
  Jonathan Stark
6–3, 1–6, 6–3
10. 19 October 1992 Tokyo Indoor, Japan Carpet   Jim Grabb
  Richey Reneberg
7–6, 6–4
11. 2 November 1992 Stockholm, Sweden Carpet   Steve DeVries
  David Macpherson
6–3, 6–4
12. 29 November 1992 Doubles Championship, Johannesburg Hard   John Fitzgerald
  Anders Järryd
6–2, 7–6(7–4), 5–7, 3–6, 6–3
13. 11 January 1993 Adelaide, Australia Hard   John Fitzgerald
  Laurie Warder
6–4, 7–5
14. 15 February 1993 Memphis, US Hard (i)   Jacco Eltingh
  Paul Haarhuis
7–5, 6–2
15. 14 June 1993 London/Queen's Club, England Grass   Neil Broad
  Gary Muller
6–7, 6–3, 6–4
16. 5 July 1993 Wimbledon, London Grass   Grant Connell
  Patrick Galbraith
7–5, 6–3, 7–6(7–4)
17. 1 November 1993 Stockholm, Sweden Carpet   Gary Muller
  Danie Visser
6–1, 3–6, 6–2
18. 7 February 1994 Dubai, UAE Hard   John Fitzgerald
  Darren Cahill
6–7, 6–4, 6–2
19. 9 May 1994 Pinehurst, US Clay   Jared Palmer
  Richey Reneberg
6–2, 3–6, 6–3
20. 4 July 1994 Wimbledon, London Grass   Grant Connell
  Patrick Galbraith
7–6(7–3), 6–3, 6–1
21. 22 August 1994 Indianapolis, US Hard   Jim Grabb
  Richey Reneberg
6–3, 6–4
22. 31 October 1994 Stockholm, Sweden Carpet   Jan Apell
  Jonas Björkman
6–3, 6–4
23. 16 January 1995 Sydney Outdoor, Australia Hard   Trevor Kronemann
  David Macpherson
7–6, 6–4
24. 27 March 1995 Key Biscayne, US Hard   Jim Grabb
  Patrick McEnroe
6–3, 7–6
25. 15 May 1995 Pinehurst, US Clay   Alex O'Brien
  Sandon Stolle
6–2, 6–4
26. 22 May 1995 Coral Springs, US Clay   Sergio Casal
  Emilio Sánchez
6–3, 6–1
27. 10 July 1995 Wimbledon, London Grass   Rick Leach
  Scott Melville
7–5, 7–6(10–8), 7–6(7–5)
28. 14 August 1995 Cincinnati, US Hard   Mark Knowles
  Daniel Nestor
6–2, 3–0, ret.
29. 11 September 1995 US Open, US Hard   Alex O'Brien
  Sandon Stolle
6–3, 6–3
30. 8 January 1996 Adelaide, Australia Hard   Jonas Björkman
  Tommy Ho
7–5, 7–6
31. 4 March 1996 Philadelphia, US Carpet   Byron Black
  Grant Connell
7–6, 6–2
32. 18 March 1996 Indian Wells, US Hard   Brian MacPhie
  Michael Tebbutt
1–6, 6–2, 6–2
33. 1 April 1996 Key Biscayne, US Hard   Ellis Ferreira
  Patrick Galbraith
6–1, 6–3
34. 22 April 1996 Tokyo, Japan Hard   Mark Knowles
  Rick Leach
6–2, 6–3
35. 20 May 1996 Coral Springs, US Clay   Ivan Baron
  Brett Hansen-Dent
6–3, 6–3
36. 17 June 1996 London/Queen's Club, England Grass   Sébastien Lareau
  Alex O'Brien
6–3, 7–6
37. 8 July 1996 Wimbledon, London Grass   Byron Black
  Grant Connell
4–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–2
38. 29 July 1996 Atlanta Olympics, US Hard   Neil Broad
  Tim Henman
6–4, 6–4, 6–2
39. 9 September 1996 US Open, New York Hard   Jacco Eltingh
  Paul Haarhuis
4–6, 7–6, 7–6
40. 7 October 1996 Singapore Carpet   Martin Damm
  Andrei Olhovskiy
7–6, 7–6
41. 17 November 1996 Doubles Championship, Hartford Carpet   Sébastien Lareau
  Alex O'Brien
6–4, 5–7, 6–2, 7–6(7–3)
42. 27 January 1997 Australian Open, Melbourne Hard   Sébastien Lareau
  Alex O'Brien
4–6, 7–5, 7–5, 6–3
43. 31 March 1997 Key Biscayne, US Hard   Mark Knowles
  Daniel Nestor
7–6, 7–6
44. 7 July 1997 Wimbledon, London Grass   Jacco Eltingh
  Paul Haarhuis
7–6(7–4), 7–6(9–7), 5–7, 6–3
45. 11 August 1997 Cincinnati, US Hard   Mark Philippoussis
  Patrick Rafter
7–6, 4–6, 6–4
46. 27 October 1997 Stuttgart Indoor, Germany Carpet   Rick Leach
  Jonathan Stark
6–3, 6–3
47. 19 January 1998 Sydney Outdoor, Australia Hard   Jacco Eltingh
  Daniel Nestor
6–3, 7–5
48. 16 February 1998 San Jose, US Hard (i)   Nelson Aerts
  André Sá
6–1, 7–5
49. 23 February 1998 Memphis, US Hard (i)   Ellis Ferreira
  David Roditi
6–3, 6–4
50. 4 May 1998 Munich, Germany Clay   Joshua Eagle
  Andrew Florent
6–0, 6–3
51. 19 October 1998 Singapore Carpet   Mahesh Bhupathi
  Leander Paes
6–2, 6–3
52. 15 February 1999 San Jose, US Hard (i)   Aleksandar Kitinov
  Nenad Zimonjić
7–5, 6–7(3–7), 6–4
53. 22 February 1999 Memphis, US Hard (i)   Sébastien Lareau
  Alex O'Brien
6–3, 6–4
54. 10 January 2000 Adelaide, Australia Hard   Lleyton Hewitt
  Sandon Stolle
6–4, 6–2
55. 17 January 2000 Sydney, Australia Hard   Lleyton Hewitt
  Sandon Stolle
7–5, 6–4
56. 3 April 2000 Miami, US Hard   Martin Damm
  Dominik Hrbatý
6–3, 6–4
57. 22 May 2000 Hamburg, Germany Clay   Wayne Arthurs
  Sandon Stolle
6–7(4–7), 6–4, 6–3
58. 12 June 2000 French Open, Paris Clay   Paul Haarhuis
  Sandon Stolle
7–6(9–7), 6–4
59. 19 June 2000 London/Queen's Club, England Grass   Jonathan Stark
  Eric Taino
6–7(5–7), 6–3, 7–6(7–1)
60. 10 July 2000 Wimbledon, London Grass   Paul Haarhuis
  Sandon Stolle
6–3, 6–4, 6–1
61. 14 August 2000 Cincinnati, US Hard   Ellis Ferreira
  Rick Leach
7–6(8–6), 6–4

Runners-up (18) edit

No. Date Tournaments Surface Opponents Score
1. 28 November 1993 Doubles Championship, Johannesburg Hard (i)   Jacco Eltingh
  Paul Haarhuis
6–7(4–7), 6–7(5–7), 4–6
2. 13 June 1994 London/Queen's Club, England Grass   Jan Apell
  Jonas Björkman
6–3, 6–7, 4–6
3. 12 September 1994 US Open, New York Hard   Jacco Eltingh
  Paul Haarhuis
3–6, 6–7(1–7)
4. 28 November 1994 Doubles Championship, Jakarta Hard (i)   Jan Apell
  Jonas Björkman
4–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–7(6–8)
5. 23 October 1995 Vienna, Austria Carpet   Ellis Ferreira
  Jan Siemerink
4–6, 5–7
6. 26 February 1996 Memphis, US Hard (i)   Mark Knowles
  Daniel Nestor
4–6, 5–7
7. 6 January 1997 Adelaide, Australia Hard   Patrick Rafter
  Bryan Shelton
4–6, 6–1, 3–6
8. 9 June 1997 French Open, Paris Clay   Yevgeny Kafelnikov
  Daniel Vacek
6–7(12–14), 6–4, 3–6
9. 2 February 1998 Australian Open, Melbourne Hard   Jonas Björkman
  Jacco Eltingh
2–6, 7–5, 6–2, 4–6, 3–6
10. 27 April 1998 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay   Jacco Eltingh
  Paul Haarhuis
4–6, 2–6
11. 6 July 1998 Wimbledon, London Grass   Jacco Eltingh
  Paul Haarhuis
6–2, 4–6, 6–7(3–7), 7–5, 8–10
12. 12 October 1998 Shanghai, China Carpet   Mahesh Bhupathi
  Leander Paes
4–6, 7–6(7–2), 6–7(4–7)
13. 3 May 1999 Atlanta, US Clay   Patrick Galbraith
  Justin Gimelstob
7–5, 6–7, 3–6
14. 14 June 1999 London/Queen's Club, England Grass   Sébastien Lareau
  Alex O'Brien
3–6, 6–7(3–7)
15. 16 August 1999 Cincinnati, US Hard   Byron Black
  Jonas Björkman
3–6, 6–7(6–8)
16. 11 October 1999 Shanghai, China Hard   Sébastien Lareau
  Daniel Nestor
5–7, 3–6
17. 18 October 1999 Singapore Hard (i)   Max Mirnyi
  Eric Taino
3–6, 4–6
18. 2 October 2000 Sydney Olympics, Australia Hard   Sébastien Lareau
  Daniel Nestor
7–5, 3–6, 4–6, 6–7(2–7)

Team competition titles (1) edit

No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
1. 3–5 December 1999 Davis Cup, Nice, France Clay (i)   Lleyton Hewitt /   Mark Philippoussis   Sébastien Grosjean /   Fabrice Santoro /   Cédric Pioline /   Olivier Delaître 3–2

Runners-up (1) edit

No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
1. 3–5 December 1993 Davis Cup, Düsseldorf, Germany Clay (i)   Richard Fromberg /   Jason Stoltenberg   Michael Stich /   Patrik Kühnen /   Marc-Kevin Goellner /   Carl-Uwe Steeb 1–4

Doubles performance timeline edit

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
Tournament 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Career SR
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open SF W 1R QF 3R 1R W F SF SF 2 / 10
French Open 3R 3R SF QF 1R SF F 3R 1R W 1 / 10
Wimbledon QF SF W W W W W F QF W 6 / 10
US Open SF SF 3R F W W 1R 3R QF 2R 2 / 10
Grand Slam SR 0 / 4 1 / 4 1 / 4 1 / 4 2 / 4 2 / 4 2 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 2 / 4 11 / 40
Year-end championship
Tennis Masters Cup SF W F F SF W RR RR SF - 2 / 9
Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games NH - Not Held W Not Held F 1 / 2
ATP Masters Series
Indian Wells Masters - QF - QF SF W SF 1R 2R QF 1 / 8
Miami Masters - - - 2R W W W 1R 3R W 4 / 7
Monte-Carlo Masters - - - - - - - F - - 0 / 1
Rome Masters 1R 1R - - - - 1R 1R - - 0 / 4
Hamburg Masters - - - - - - - - - W 1 / 1
Canada Masters - - - - - QF - - 1R - 0 / 2
Cincinnati Masters 1R W - SF W QF W QF F W 4 / 9
Stuttgart Masters ² - W W W SF QF W QF SF 1R 4 / 9
Paris Masters QF 1R QF SF SF SF 1R QF QF - 0 / 9
Masters Series SR 0 / 3 2 / 5 1 / 2 1 / 5 2 / 5 2 / 6 3 / 6 0 / 7 0 / 6 3 / 5 14 / 50
Doubles team ranking 5 1 3 2 1 1 1 3 3 1
  • ² held in Stockholm 1990–94, Essen in 1995