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.