Defending Champs Bryan Bros Suffer First Round Loss – US Open Doubles Update

Written by: Global Chick on 1st September 2011

Defending Champs Bryan Bros Suffer First Round Loss – US Open Doubles Update

Bob Bryan (L) from United States along with his brother and teammate Mike Bryan (R) celebrate after winning the doubles match against Spain during the 2011 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Quarterfinal between the United States and Spain at the Frank Erwin Center at the University of Texas at Austin, in Austin, Texas, 09 July 2011. EPA/LARRY W. SMITH |

The World No. 1 doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan were blown off the court today by Ivo Karlovic of Croatia and Frank Moser of Germany in the first round at US Open.

The twins have already won the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year and countless of other ATP tournaments. Today’s loss is only the second time since 2001 the brothers have lost in the first round.

Ivo Karlovic and Frank Moser are hardly doubles specialists but they won in three sets today 6-4 2-6 6-2. The Croatian/German team hit 10 aces combined today and hit 44 winners compared to the Bryan’s 31. Their second round opponents will be the Italian team of Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini who beat Carlos Berlocq and Lukas Rosol 7-6 (3) 4-6 6-4.

The number eleven seeds Frantisek Cermak and Filip Polasek were also taken out today by Italian duo Baniele Bracciali and Potito Starace 6-4 6-4. The Italian team will face Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan and Mihail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan, who beat strong Scandinavian doubles combination Jarkko Nieminen of Finland and Johan Brunstrom of Sweden in a third set tiebreak.

Israeli team Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram defeated Argentinians Lucas Arnold Ker and Juan Monaco 4-6 7-6 (5) 6-3 to advance into the second round. Erlich and Ram can expect a tough match against the number nine seeds Jurgen Melzer of Austria and Philipp Petzschner of Germany. The Austrian/German combo cruised in their first round winning 6-3 6-0 against Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico and Jamie Murray of Great Britain.

The number two seeds Max Mirnyi of Belarus and Daniel Nestor of Canada had an easy day in the office winning 6-3 6-2 against Santiago Giraldo of Colombia and Pere Riba of Spain. Mirnyi and Nestor’s next round opponents will be the British team Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins, who had a two set win over experienced doubles team Martin Damm and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.