Day 2 Doubles Update – Bryan Twins Eke Out Win

Written by: Staff on 21st November 2011

Day 2 Doubles Update – Bryan Twins Eke Out Win

Bob Bryan (R) from United States celebrates with brother and teammate Mike Bryan (L) 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 |

Top-seeds Bob and Mike Bryan began their quest for a fourth year-end title and the “Indian Express” was run over by a Swede and Romanian on day two of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on Monday.

The California Bryan twins saved one match point to beat seventh seeds Jurgen Melzer and Philipp Petzschner 6-7 (4), 7-5, 10-7 in a Group A round-robin doubles match.

Meanwhile, sixth seeds Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau, who are both making their first appearance at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, upset fourth seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes 7-6 (6), 6-1 in the first meeting ever between the teams.

The Bryans are now 24-9 record at the year-end championship, where they have won three titles in 2003, 2004 and 2009. Last year, they lost in the semi-finals to Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic.

In an 11-minute Match tie-break, the Bryans raced into a 6-2 lead, before Melzer and Petzschner clawed their way back to 7-8. Melzer gifted the Bryans two match point chances when he swung at a forehand volley. Bob Bryan sealed the one-hour and 40-minute win with a forehand down the line, which Petzschner could not control.

The Bryans are now 5-0 lifetime against Melzer and Petzschner and improve to a 59-14 match record on the season. The U.S. Open champion Melzer and Petzschner are 3-0 in finals this season.

In their first-ever trip to the year-end event, both the Swede Lindstedt and Romania’s Tecau proved to be too good for the experienced fourth seeded Indians who could convert only two of the 11 break points, all coming in the first set.

“I think we played well enough to come back when we were down,” Bhupathi said. “At 6-4 in the tie-break they came up with two big shots. This format is easy for teams like the one we played today, they come out swinging. Had we won the first set it would’ve been a different match.”

Added Paes: “It was just one of those matches where things didn’t go our way. We have bounced back from tough situations many times this year.”

Topics: Atp, Barclays, Doubles