Melbourne, 4 April 2014 | Vivienne Christie, Editor Australian Tennis Magazine

As Davis Cup quarterfinals begin this weekend and high-stakes Fed Cup semifinals loom – including Australia’s meeting with Germany in Brisbane – it’s fitting that Australian Tennis Magazine’s April issue is all about team tennis.

Todd Woodbridge, perhaps Australia’s most prolific team tennis player given his 23 Grand Slam doubles titles (16 men’s and seven mixed) and an Olympic gold medal with Mark Woodforde, is among those to provide views on the less-singular side to tennis.

“I don’t believe isolating yourself from your peers necessarily makes you better,” Woodbridge writes, “Working within team environments absolutely can and does help your game.”

While Woodbridge explains how Davis and Fed Cup prove a turning point in many careers, other more practical elements of team tennis also take centre stage. Most fascinating to many will be the synergy and tactics that have helped Bob and Mike Bryan claim an unmatched 96 career titles.

The “do’s and don’ts” of team tennis – do communicate well, have fun and support each other, but don’t argue, hog the court or be late – is another must-read for club players.

And while tennis is a fiercely individual professional sport, many groundbreaking feats have been a team effort. Our top 10 dream teams of the Open era features many Australian greats and other star combinations. Alongside doubles pairings there are Davis Cup combinations, coaches, family members and even star management connections

The team element is equally critical in singles careers too. Fan favourite Grigor Dimitrov explains as much in the second half of an exclusive interview, in which he explains how girlfriend Maria Sharapova, Aussie super coach Roger Rasheed and even Roger Federer, who now has a management link, have provided critical support in his recent career breakthroughs.

Tomas Berdych is another star player who credits team elements in his success, the recent world No.5 explaining how a starring role in back-to-back winning Davis Cup teams for the Czech Republic has provided new motivation in his individual career too. Ashleigh Barty shares similar insight on the Fed Cup success that has already helped shape her young career.

Player entourages aren’t overlooked either, with an entertaining feature on the cast of many – which can encompass a coach, spouse or partner, family members media manager, personal chef, driver and others – that accompany top players throughout the world.

The “team” issue also features nutritional information, stroke advice, as well as local and international tennis news, plus two pull out posters (featuring Agnieszka Radwanska and Alexandr Dolgopolov) ensuring tennis fans will be entertained all month long.

Australian Tennis Magazine’s April issue is now on sale in newsagencies or at tennismag.com.au. It is also available for download on iPad.