A Less Stressful Season for the Bryans

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SEPTEMBER 2011

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A Less Stressful Season for the Bryans

Wednesday, 26 January 2011 05:38

By Marcia Frost

In over 20 years of covering tennis, I’ve watched and gotten to know many college and junior players come through the ranks. Most have gone on to other professions, but some have hit the top. The Bryan Brothers are definitely in the latter group, having led their peers in junior tennis, their Stanford team to NCAA finals, and now as the certified best doubles team of all time.
Last year was a special one for Bob and Mike Bryan. In August, they hit their 61st win and broke the all-time record set by “The Woodies,” Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde. The record had stood since 2000 and it was especially exciting for the Brothers to be able to claim they won the most of any doubles team in history in front of their family and friends in Los Angeles. The twins, who won their first ATP title in 1999 when they were only 21, continued the momentum with another title at the US Open and finished the year as the No. 1 team in the world.

There was also another reason to celebrate in 2010. Bob Bryan wed longtime girlfriend Michelle Alvarez. While some thought that the brothers, who lived, worked and played together since birth, might lose their doubles edge on the court, nothing seems further from the truth as they start another year of play.
Bob and Mike Bryan entered the Australian Open with 69 ATP titles under their belt. As defending champions (for the last two years), they are more than familiar with the courts Down Under. This year it’s also more relaxing, “We always put pressure on ourselves to do all the Slams and start the year off,” said Mike, “but it feels like a weight has been lifted now that we have the record. We’re a little bit more a part of history. To have that off our mind, it helps a lot.”

The lack of stress has shown on the court as the two continue to anticipate each other’s every move, working in unison as only twins can. This was especially true in their second round match. On a windy Court 2 in Melbourne Park, they were faced with three set points from Carlos Berlocq of Argentina and Pere Riba. A more relaxed than usual Bob answered back with two aces, welcomed a double fault and closed out the set, though he admits it was “definitely sticky” for a moment there.

The Friday win brought the Bryans one step closer to their fifth Australian Open Men’s Doubles title and a chance at the elusive calendar year Grand Slam. But Mike doesn’t feel finally winning all four Grand Slam events in one year is something they are worried about, “That always looks really impossible to us. In doubles, the margins are so slim. If we can win our next match, we’ll be pumped. One foot in front of the other and we’ll see what happens.”

Look for more stories from longtime Tennis Life contributor Marcia Frost throughout the tournament as she explores Victoria, Australia, and the year’s first Slam.