Bryan Brothers Close On The 3rd Monte Carlo Championship

Written by: Staff on 21st April 2012

Bryan Brothers Close On The 3rd Monte Carlo Championship

epa03174565 French tennis players Michael Llodra (top R) and Julien Benneteau (top L) return the ball to US tennis players Bob Bryan (down L) and Mike Bryan (down R) during their double Davis Cup quarter final tennis match in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 07 April 2012. EPA/GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO |

World No. 1 doubles pairing Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan advanced to the final of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters for the fifth time on Saturday as they defeated Spaniards Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 6-4, 7-6(5).

The Americans squandered four match points in the 12th game of the second set, but dominated the ensuing tie-break to clinch victory in one hour and 36 minutes. They are bidding to win the title at this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament for the third time, following victories in 2007 (d. Benneteau/Gasquet) and 2011 (d. Chela/Soares).

The 33-year-old Bryans are chasing their second ATP World Tour title of the season, having opened with victory at the Apia International Sydney (d. Ebden/Nieminen). They were also runners-up at the Australian Open, falling to Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek, whom they defeated in the quarter-finals this week.

In Sunday’s final they will face either second seeds Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor or third seeds Michael Llodra and Nenad Zimonjic.