French Open doubles champion Michael Venus will play with a new partner next year.
Michael Venus (right) and Ryan Harrison discuss tactics. Photo: Wimbledon
Venus won the Roland Garros title with American Ryan Harrison this year, but has announced that he'll play with South African Raven Klaasen in 2018.
Harrison is ranked 47 in singles and wants to pursue his singles career.
"From the beginning it was never really going to be a long term thing with Ryan", Venus said.
"Ryan was helping me out until I could find a consistent partner, we had some great success early on and that's why we continued for the rest of the year."
Venus and Harrison also won the Estoril clay court title this year and made the semi-finals of the season ending ATP Tour Finals in London.
35 year old Klaasen has won 13 ATP doubles titles, including in Auckland in 2015, and the prestigious Indian Wells Masters this year with American Rajeev Ram.
Klaasen was runner-up in the 2014 Australian Open doubles and the 2016 ATP World Tour Finals doubles.
"We've played against each other numerous times, so we know each others game, we actually played together many years ago and won a Futures event, so I think we match up well."
Venus says the ASB Classic in Auckland in January will be his first tournament with Klaasen.
