Nicole Melichar on making it in doubles

"The time off just let me mentally relax and just enjoy life, but enjoy tennis for fun not because I had to do it but I wanted to do it, so I think that was important."

Doubles champion Nicole Melichar is on the show this week to recap her very successful summer. The world No. 11 won titles in West Virginia and Strasbourg, reached the final of "Cincy" and the US Open, and appeared in the semifinals of Roland Garros (the latter of which with Iga Swiatek).

Melichar pursued a pro career early in lieu of the college route, and initially focused on making it in singles, getting as high as No. 400 before zoning in on doubles. She would break through in 2018, cracking the Top 20 after winning two titles with Kveta Peschke and winning the Wimbledon mixed doubles crown.

The 27-year-old explains what caused the shifts in her careers, first to doubles and later to the top of the rankings. She gives her assessment of Swiatek's talent and explains how she has been maneuvering through partners (and opponents) with Peschke's husband Torsten as her coach. Melichar also shares what goes into figuring out doubles practice and how she's helping design clothes for Neptune Athletics. 

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