AUBURN, Ala. – When Bobby Reynolds recruited Tad Maclean from Cornwall, England, the Auburn men's tennis coach got a two-for-one.
Two years after Maclean arrived at Auburn in 2018, his countryman, Finn Murgett, joined him in 2020 from Holmfirth, Yorkshire, reuniting a doubles team that began in Great Britain when they were lads.
Reynolds first recruited Maclean, an under-the-radar prospect.
"I saw him when I was in England," Reynolds said. "I knew the potential that he had. That's what's been exciting, being able to work with him and mold him as a player, and to get him to this level, which I knew as a coach and an eye of tennis that he could get there."
Maclean, in turn, pitched the Plains to Murgett.
"Tried to help recruit him and get him out here with me," said Maclean, whom Reynolds credits for helping Auburn land Murgett.
"With Finn, it's that relationship that Tad had with him," Reynolds said. "Every good program no matter what sport it is, the players on the team recruit other players way more than even the coaches do, in selling it. That's what Tad did.
"He's known him since 12, 13 years old, and said, 'Come on, I want you to be my doubles partner. I want to go and do this.'Reunited: Tad Maclean (left) and Finn Murgett renewed the doubles partnership they began as juniors, with great success
"Fast forward a year and a half, two years, and they did what they set out. Whether they thought it was a realistic goal or not, that's actually how Tad got Finn to come. He said, "I want you to be my doubles partner. We used to play doubles together. Let's do it again for two years.'"
That's how it started. Here's how it's going.
Ranked No. 26 nationally, Auburn's M&M doubles duo blasted its way to the finals at the NCAA Championships in Orlando May 23-28, earning All-America honors by dispatching teams ranked No. 25, No. 22, No. 10 and No. 71 before matching No. 3 Tennessee's tandem point for point in the championship match, falling 7-6 (5), 2-6, 13-11.'They put it all on the line': Auburn head coach Bobby Reynolds consoles Tad and Finn
"They put it all out on the line," Reynolds said. "It's an honor to mentor them and coach them each day."
"I'm so proud of us," Murgett said. "We can go out with our heads held high. We knew we could beat anyone in the draw. It was about playing as a unit."
"We've done unbelievably well this week, staying together on the court," Maclean said. "I couldn't be prouder of us. Coming from being friends before college to Finn coming over. I'm just looking forward to next year."
At 6-foot-2, the left-handed Maclean stands 5 inches taller, a contrast that works especially well in doubles.
"Our games complement each other," Maclean said. "That's what we're trying to do, have teams with a big guy and a little guy. I think we just gelled on the court, his game at the net with my serve. We have weaknesses but we hide them well, which has enabled us to get to here. I think we complement each other's energy."
"Tad is always there for me, when it's tough," Murgett said. "Never takes a step back, always great energy, great serve. Never doubts, always put me and him before anyone else.
"I think I bring good energy to the court, a heady forehand from the back of the court, good at sticking the ball through the court and volleying well, and getting up on Tad's serve. I think I've been pretty clutch this tournament with returns."'Brotherly love': Tad and Finn reached the finals at the 2021 NCAA Tennis Championships
Their on-court partnership works so well in part because of their off-court bond.
"I don't think many partnerships in doubles are with their best friends," said Murgett. "That helps also."
"They have that brotherly love on and off the court," Reynolds said. "Sometimes it hurts them, but when they click and have the good brotherly love, they can play with anybody in the country, and that's what they tapped into."
In their first season of collegiate collaboration, Maclean and Murgett came within one point of a national doubles championship, a development that bodes well for their partnership and Auburn men's tennis.
"They're great people, even more than the tennis," Reynolds said. "I hope that in the next couple years people back in Auburn have a chance to come out, support them, and really get to know them.
"It makes it so fun to be able to work with them because they're such great kids and huge hearts and want to grow and learn no matter what it is, tennis or in life.
"To get this under their belt in their first year, it's exciting. They'll be playing again next year together, and I'm hoping for one match better.
"The next three or four years are going to be fun for Auburn men's tennis."NCAA runners-up (l/r): Auburn assistant coach Chris Hooshyar, Tad, Finn and head coach Bobby Reynolds
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
