All credit to SB for drawing my attention to this...

Bjorkman and Mirnyi, who have been a force on the ATP circuit since combining three years ago, have played their final match together. Beginning in February 2008, Bjorkman will team with Zimbabwe's Ullyett. (The Swede will miss the Australian swing to be with his wife Petra, who is expecting their second child in mid January).

I'll bring you more info as and when I find it but, courtesy of the atp website, here's a summary of both teams.

Since joining forces three years ago, Jonas Bjorkman and Max 'the Beast' Mirnyi have become one of the most feared duos on the circuit. The only top tandem with both players ranked in the Top 100 of the singles rankings, Bjorkman's laser-like returns and quick hands and Mirnyi's booming serve and big reach combine for a potent partnership.
They finished 2006 as the No. 2 duo, winning three ATP Masters Series shields and the Roland Garros crown for the second successive year, and capped off the season by going undefeated en route to the Tennis Masters Cup title. That marked the 50th career doubles title for Bjorkman - the most among active players.

The Swedish-Belarusian duo used the momentum from their Shanghai victory to carry them into the Australian Open final early in the 2007 season. They also reached the semifinals at ATP Masters Series Indian Wells and at Queen's, and the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.

The pairing claimed their first title of the 2007 campaign at the Stockholm Open (d. Clement/Llodra) before going on to reach the semifinals at AMS Madrid and the quarterfinals at AMS Paris.


Australian Paul Hanley and Zimbabwean Kevin Ullyett clicked right at the start of their partnership, which began at the start of the 2006 season. Originally halves of long-time partnerships with now-retired compatriots - Hanley with Wayne Arthurs and Ullyett with Wayne Black - the two clinched five titles on three different surfaces to finish their first season together as the No. 4 tandem.
The 2007 season also began positively with a sixth title in Hanley's home town of Sydney, and, for the second year in a row, the team reached the Australian Open semifinals. Despite an ensuing title drought, Hanley and Ullyett continued to deliver consistent results, including runner-up finishes at the ATP Masters Series events in Hamburg and Montreal, and the semifinals at the US Open.

Ullyett, 35, has won two Grand Slam doubles titles: the 2001 US Open and 2005 Australian Open (both with Wayne Black).

In the Fall the Australian/Zimbabwean duo made the quarterfinals or better in three of four tournaments, including two semifinal runs in Stockholm and Basel.

wonder what Miryni will be doing??? :unsure:

:blush: I missed this

maybe not surprising that these teams have split given results this year (especially Bjorkman/Mirnyi). Hopefully all four will come back better next year, and yay :yahoo: that they're not retiring (at least not Bjorkman and Ullyett)

ooh how exciting, Max was born around then too, congratulatons to them but :cry: that he won't be in Aus next year