Bryans Heading for Grand Slam Greatness

Courtesy of http://photobucket.com by sittel

American twins Bob and Mike Bryan won their fifth Australian Open doubles title, beating Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi of India 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday. They celebrating the win with their familiar chest bump.

The flamboyant Bryans have held the No. 1 ranking in doubles for most of the past eight years and have won 10 Grand Slam doubles titles, including the U.S Open three times and the French Open and Wimbledon once each. The twin brothers, who have won Australian titles in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010 and have also been runners-up twice. They didn't lose their serve and broke Bhupathi and Paes twice.

"We have tons of respect for those guys, they are legends, they are marquee, they can only make our game better," Bob Bryan said. "It was just great to have the 'Indian Express' back on the doubles court. It was an extra-special feeling out there."

The Bryans hold the record for the most tournament titles of any men's pairing in the Open Era, which they increased to 68, seven better than retired Australians Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge. Mark Woodforde holds the record for most doubles titles by an individual with 83.

They are also nearing on the ''Woodies''' collection of 11 Grand Slam trophies, and are within two of the Open Era record of 12, held by the legendary Australian pairing of John Newcombe and Tony Roche.

Paes said the Bryans played "the perfect match."

Bhupathi and Paes are a formidable combination, but their most recent Grand Slam tournament together was in 2002. They have had a tumultuous relationship, which has caused their partnership to suffer at times. A decade ago, Bhupathi and Paes, were the best doubles team in the world, before their partnership disintegrated. They were seeking a career Grand Slam, each having won the French Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon either together, or with other partners. The veteran tandem buried the hatchet and reunited this season.

As for the 31 year-old Bryans, right-handed Mike asking left-handed Bob to give up singles back in 2001 to concentrate on becoming the best in doubles team in the world certainly has paid off. Since 1998 they've won $14 million in prize money. This is perhaps a fifth of what top singles players earn. These “Michael Jordans” of the doubles world have risen to the top by staying positive, focussed and supportive of each other.