John Peers is excited to unveil a new combination with New Zealander Michael Venus in 2020.
Peers has returned to Perth for a well-earned rest with his family after finishing his 2019 season at the Davis Cup Finals in Madrid.
Peers has revealed that his collaboration with Henri Kontinen would come to an end by mutual agreement after four incredibly successful years together. The pair won the 2017 Australian Open and were back-to-back winners of the ATP Finals in 2016 and 2017.
“I had a great few years with Henri,” Peers said. “We both thought it was time to part ways but we’re still good friends. We are leaving it on good terms, which is always what you want to do. It’s going to be a nice fresh feeling with Mikey and something new and energetic.”
Venus, 32, is the world No.10 ranked doubles player and won two titles with Raven Klaasen this year.
Peers said the pair had already built a strong bond.
“We actually trained together in London and I got to know him really well over there,” Peers said. “It’s really good to be able to get on the same side of the net as him, rather than playing against him all the time.
“I just got to know him well as an individual and he’s got a great temperament and also he’s had a few good years and I was lucky enough that he wasn’t continuing with his current partner so it was an opportunity and he was up for having a go at it.
“Of course, it can take time to build chemistry, but also if you know each other personally – the way they want to handle things, especially under pressure – you can gel a lot quicker than you realise.
“I think it’s going to be a good positive thing because we already know each other so well and we’ve already spent a lot of time practising with each other, it actually becomes a lot easier when you’ve already done all that work before you have done the work as a team.”
Peers and Venus are set to debut their partnership at the ASB Classic in Auckland in January before they take on the Australian Open.
But first, Peers will re-join his Australian teammates in Brisbane for the ATP Cup as he looks forward to the Australian summer of tennis.
For now, Peers is enjoying the sunshine with his young family as he takes a few weeks off before starting his pre-season.