BRYANS, PAES/STEPANEK AVOID SEEDS EXODUS

Written by: Staff on 29th August 2012

BRYANS, PAES/STEPANEK AVOID SEEDS EXODUS

epa03101267 US Davis Cup tennis player Mardy Fish (R) celebrates with teamate Mike Bryan (L) after they won against Swiss Davis Cup tennis player Stanislas Wawrinka and Roger Federer during the Davis Cup World Group first round double match between Switzerland and the US in the Forum Arena in Fribourg, Switzerland, 11 February 2012. EPA/LAURENT GILLIERON |

Americans Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan avoided the seeds exodus of Tuesday as they opened their US Open campaign with a straight-sets win Wednesday in New York. The three-time champions and No. 2 seeds took just 56 minutes to defeat Belgians Steve Darcis and David Goffin 6-1, 6-4.

The Bryans have now won 12 of their past 13 matches, including their gold medal triumph at the London 2012 Olympics and title win at the Rogers Cup, and improve to a 50-9 season record. They are looking to win their first Grand Slam title of the season after runner-up finishes at the Australian Open (l. to Paes/Stepanek) and Roland Garros (l. to Mirnyi/Nestor).

Fifth seeds Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek also made their way safely into the second round as they dismissed Germans Dustin Brown and Christopher Kas 6-3, 6-3 in 54 minutes. Paes and Stepanek joined forces at the beginning of the season and made an immediate impact with victory at the Australian Open (d. Bryans). They also triumphed at the Sony Open Tennis in Miami (d. Mirnyi/Nestor).

Wimbledon champions Frederik Nielsen of Denmark and Great Britain’s Jonathan Marray won their first match together since their shock triumph at the All England Club in July. The 11th seeds defeated Italians Flavio Cipolla and Fabio Fognini 7-5, 6-3 in 75 minutes to reach the second round.

Eighth seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna did not fare as well in their opening match Wednesday, upset by the Australian duo of Matthew Ebden and Bernard Tomic 6-3, 7-6(4). Bhupathi and Bopanna had recently teamed up to reach the Cincinnati final (l. to Lindstedt/Tecau).