Dream matchup

As kids, Michael “Showbiz” Shabaz and Drew Courtney used to attend the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington D.C. and watch pros Bob and Mike Bryan play.

Tonight, the University of Virginia doubles tandem will be on the other side of the net from the twin brothers, who are widely considered to be the best doubles squad of all-time.

Can you say surreal?

“I’m really excited,” Courtney said. “I think this is a great opportunity for Michael and I. I think we’re both really, really pumped to get out there and play.

“Yeah, it’s a little nerve-racking to be playing the best team to ever play, but at the same time we’re both really, really excited.”

Shabaz and Courtney, by virtue of their NCAA doubles championship this past spring, earned a wild card entry into the U.S. Open series event. The players, who both hail from Northern Virginia, should have quite a cheering section -- something that should come in handy against the Bryans, currently the No.-2 ranked doubles team in the world.

The 32-year-olds have won a record 62 pro tournaments, including eight grand slam titles (at least one of every major).

“They’ve always been a huge part of American tennis,” said Shabaz, a two-time NCAA champion. “They’ve been on the Davis Cup team for years and years and have had a tremendous amount of success.

“I’ve always enjoyed watching them play because they’re good guys and have a lot of energy.”

Surprisingly, the Bryans -- who won the 1998 NCAA championship while at Stanford -- have never faced fellow NCAA champs during their long and illustrious careers.

“You’ll have a bunch of NCAA champions on the court, which will be pretty cool,” Shabaz said.

Virginia coach Brian Boland has told Shabaz and Courtney to try and enjoy the festivities.

“I think it will not only be a learning experience for them,” Boland said, “but they are going to go out there and compete and see what happens and leave it on the court.

“They’re playing probably the greatest team ever to play -- that’s an unbelievable experience for two guys who grew up like 15 minutes from Legg Mason.”

Shabaz certainly has some big-match experience to fall back on. Last summer, teaming with pro Wayne Odesnik, he became the first active Virginia player to participate in a U.S. Open. (He had earned a wild card after winning the NCAA title the spring before with former UVa teammate Dom Inglot.)

Shabaz and Odesnik wound up losing to John Isner and Sam Querrey, 6-3, 6-4, in the first round in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. 

Shabaz, who, in addition to teaming with Courtney played No. 1 singles for Virginia this season, is approaching tonight pragmatically.

“You can look at it like we have no pressure,” said Shabaz, when asked about the match. “But once you get out there, you obviously want to perform well and be competitive and want to win.

“It’s going to be fun. Either way, the whole experience -- I think we’re going to take a lot out of it. We’re looking forward to it.”

A good performance would certainly be helpful in securing a wild card into the U.S. Open come August.

“That would be amazing,” Courtney said. “The goal of the summer is to try and make that happen.

“Hopefully, this is a good stepping stone.”

Aces

Former Virginia star Somdev Devvarman, in his third year on the pro tour, lost in the qualifying round of the Legg Mason. Devvarman came into the event ranked No. 96 in the world.