The All-American doubles dream team of Bob and Mike Bryan, who put together a career-best season in 2007 to maintain their status as the world’s best duo for the third successive year, have brought their form into 2008.
They reached the Sydney final in their 2008 season opener, and would go on to reach three more finals in consecutive appearances at Delray Beach, San Jose and Las Vegas. But it wasn’t until April, at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, when they clinched their first title of the year. They became just the third team in the 24-year tournament history to win back-to-back titles at the event.
Following a quarterfinal run at Masters Series Monte Carlo at the start of the run-up to Roland Garros, the Bryan twins went on to claim their 46th and 47th titles at Barcelona and Masters Series Rome and finished as runners-up at Masters Series Hamburg. Their victory in Rome left Indian Wells as the only one of nine ATP Masters Series shields yet to be added to their career collection. After reaching consecutive quarterfinals at Roland Garros and Queen's and the semifinals at Wimbledon, the Bryans joined Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic as the first teams to qualify for the 2008 Tennis Master Cup in Shanghai. In 2007, the Bryans opened the season with the successful title defense at the Australian Open and then clinched the ATP Masters Series titles in Miami, Monte Carlo and Hamburg. In July, the twins matched their previous season-best haul of seven titles with their fourth Los Angeles crown and a week later, eclipsed their mark by winning in Washington. The Bryan twins went on to enjoy great success in their last three ATP tournaments of the year, clinching the Stanford ATP Doubles Race as they won three straight titles at AMS Madrid, Basel and AMS Paris. The victories took their career total to 44 titles, which tied them in fourth place with Casal/Sanchez on the list of Open Era doubles titles leaders. They finished 2007 with a tour leading record of 77-9, along with 11 titles.
Along with teammates Andy Roddick, James Blake and Captain Patrick McEnroe, they also helped bring the Davis Cup back to the United States in 2007. Their doubles match clinched the tie to beat Russia in Portland on Dec. 1 and they were undefeated in all four of their matches that year.
Between 2005 and 2006, they reached an Open Era record of seven consecutive men’s doubles Grand Slam finals. Their Grand Slam victories have been at the French Open (2003), US Open (2005), Australian Open (2006 and 2007) and Wimbledon (2006).
Left-hander Bob brings a huge first serve and a world-class forehand to the partnership while right-sided Mike has explosive returns. They attract spectators with high-energy theatrics and chest bumping celebrations. Off court, Mike plays drums and Bob keyboard as part of the Bryan Bros. Band. I think these guys will gona win gold medal at Beijing.
|
