Rafael Nadal recently took the singles and doubles titles at an ATP Masters event. Jessica Kluetmeier/SI Jon Wertheim's Mailbag Jon Wertheim will answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag every Wednesday. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND Follow Jon Wertheim on Twitter

How good a doubles player is Rafael Nadal? He has the same number of titles this year that the Bryans do and his partners are always ranked below 100. And he has a much harder draw because of his lack of seeding.

Should not you have made more comment on his Monte Carlo win? It's the first time in 17 years that someone has won both the singles and doubles titles at an ATP Masters event. It appears to me that the doubles enhancement is working. Nadal has played in every ATP Masters doubles draw in the past 12 months, but not in a single Slam.

This suggests two ways to get the stars playing doubles: 1) Use the same slam format as the women -- two of three in singles and a match tie-break after split sets in doubles; or 2) Make a big deal out of winning both singles and doubles at the same tournament. Double the doubles monies if that occurs. Whenever a big name player was in both late in the tournament, there would be the extra buzz about the doubles' bonus money.
-- Jerry White, Mineral, Va.

You lost me there at the end, but I think your point is a good one. We really ought to be praising Nadal, both for his willingness to play doubles and his track record. And you're right to note that his draw is often laced with obstacles. I saw him play last year in Rome and, while his net game doesn't necessarily recall Stefan Edberg, he's a serviceable doubles player whose lefty serve led to countless easy putaways for his partner. Beyond that, he looked like he was having fun. We've said this before, but we'll say it again: Nadal may not be at the Saint Federer Canonization level. But, man, does this kid do a lot of things -- large and small -- that show grace and humility.

To Jerry's second point, I think it's unlikely that the stars play doubles at the Slams. The stakes are simply too high. It simply doesn't make sense for a player like Nadal to risk turning an ankle or screwing up his scheduling by playing doubles. It's a shame, but so be it. The sport thrives at the Slam level. The "enhancements" were really designed for Tour level events, anyway.

Have you noticed that Kimiko Date, the very talented Japanese who prematurely retired in 1996, reached the final of a $50,000 challenger tournament in Japan last week? She had to qualify for it, to boot, and took a set off the eventual winner. Any further info on this? Are we going to witness an unexpected comeback this year?
-- Jon A., Bilbao, Spain

Great story. Date, now 37, was once a top-five player. She retired in 1996 (!) and announced a recent comeback. She not only reached the final -- winning seven matches -- but took the doubles title as well. Obviously, this wasn't a WTA level event, but it's still a strong effort. This may not have gotten much attention internationally, but there were 150 media members at the event. Be interesting to see if she can string a few matches together and climb the ranks. Or if this was simply an inspiring one-week story.

You should have given some more context to the Djokovic/Ljubicic shirt swapping -- their countries were at war during their early lifetimes. Remember in the early 90s when Goran Ivanisevic said that if he and Monica Seles both won Wimbledon, he would refuse to attend the champions' dinner if she were there? I am not a tremendous fan of Djokovic's, and the thing was obviously staged, but it was a nice burying of the political hatchet.
-- Deborah, Como NSW, Australia

Of course you are right on all counts. And because we're all friends, I confess to being ashamed of my sloppy answer last week.

Guga is retiring after the French Open. What are his chances of being inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame? Also, if Nadal and Roddick are to retire this year, what are their chances?
-- Virgil, Yuma, Arizona

We've said before that the Hall of Fame selectors have set a dangerously low precedent for admission. Once you let in a player who's won a solitary Slam, it's tough to deny others. Of the three players you name, I think they're all first string candidates anyway; but they're shoo-ins given the current standards (or lack thereof.)

Kuerten won three Majors, he reached No. 1 and gets points for being a "credit to the game" type, a well-liked, charming overachiever. You wish he'd posted stronger results outside of clay, but, hey, you can't have everything. If he were to retire today, Nadal would likely go down as the best claycourter ever. Enough said. And while he never reached No. 1, his points haul was such that had he played in any other era (i.e. not had the misfortune to co-exist with Federer) he'd have been a dominant top player.

As for Roddick, he's only taken one Slam. But taking his record at Wimbledon (multiple finals), his No. 1 ranking, his haul of titles, including multiple TMS shields, his Davis Cup success, as well his unquantifiable "persona points," he gets my vote. Easy.

You wrote about Sam Querrey: "While it won't likely earn him a place on the next Davis Cup team, as some of you suggested..." Yahoo! Ya gotta luv the politics!
-- Maria, Long Island, N.Y.

Disagree. Sure Querrey posted a strong result on clay while the other Americans didn't bother entering the event. But you're talking about an American team that won the Davis Cup in 2007 and boasts two top-10 singles players who have committed themselves for the best part of this decade. You really want to say to Roddick or James Blake: "Thanks for availing yourself for the last dozen ties. But, hey, Sam won three matches in Monte Carlo, so I'm calling him in from the bullpen"?

What's your take on Andy Murray? He seems to me to have taken a step backwards this year.
-- Carl, Chicago

In our recurring game of "buy, sell or hold," I'm still holding. Beyond Murray's lack of a real weapon and his injuries, I worry about his stubbornness. On the other hand, he plays well on a variety of surfaces, he has a terrific tennis cortex, and I'm predisposed to like anything Scottish.

Shots, miscellany

• Look for announcement next week confirming that ESPN will televise the U.S. Open starting in 2009.

• Nick Bollettieri will be honored at the New York College of Health Professions graduation ceremony on May 18, 2008, with an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters. During the ceremony Nick will also serve as Commencement Speaker to over 1,000 attendees at the College's Commencement ceremony.

• This week's unsolicited book recommendation: Pitch Perfect, by Mickey Rapkin.

• This week's Page Six blind item: Which current top 10 player was gallivanting around my neighborhood last week accompanied by the rapper, Common?

• Octagon signed up-and-coming Sorana Cirstea to an exclusive representation agreement. An 18-year-old native of Romania, Cirstea has reached a career-high WTA ranking of 73.

• Donald Young gets a wild card into New Haven.

• This Week's Go Figure: Remember how Carlos Berloq of Argentina double-bageled Donald Young last year in Key Biscayne? Young entered last week ranked No. 73. Berloq was No. 91.

• Wayne Odesnik beat Jesse Levine (pair of lefties) in the playoff and won the "U.S wild card" into the main draw of the French Open. Madison Brengle took the women's card.

• Tennis Confidential II is out. To order click here.