BOB BRYAN AND MIKE BRYAN , THE PERFECT TEAM

Written by: Staff on 19th November 2014

BOB BRYAN AND MIKE BRYAN , THE PERFECT TEAM |

( Original and curtesy of the ATP: http://www.barclaysatpworldtourfinals.com/en/news-and-media/tennis/finals-2014-doubles-final-bryans-dodig-melo?utm_source=ATPMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ATP%20World%20Tour%20Weekly%20#40%20-%20November%2017%202014%20(1) )

Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan have won their fourth season finale title in their sixth championship match at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

The top-seeded American twins captured their 103th team trophy with a 6-7(5), 6-2, 10-7 victory over seventh seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo on Sunday afternoon at The O2 in London.

The finalists of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis doubles. (Left to right) Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Marcelo Melo, Ivan Dodig.

The Bryans have now clinched 10 or more tour-level titles in a single season on four occasions (also 2007, 2010, 2013). They complete the year with a 64-12 match record.

“Looking back at the year, we’re very proud of the way it went,” said Mike Bryan. “If we had to pick one highlight during this great season, it would probably have to be the US Open. It was just a milestone we were shooting for. One of our big goals coming in the year was to try to hit 100 titles. We did it luckily at our home Grand Slam when there was a lot of talk about it. To finish year end No. 1 was a huge goal, we did that for the 10th season. That ranks right up there.

“This is considered the fifth slam, with the top eight teams in the world. To lose our first match and bounce back, barely qualify for the semi-finals, win today, was a great feeling.”

Dodig and Melo, who came into the final without a team title on the year, saved all four break points they faced in the 48-minute opener. At 4-5, 30/0, Mike Bryan felled his brother, Bob, by striking a first serve into the back of his head. “That was going to be an ace, by the way,” said Bob Bryan. “Five seconds after I hit him, I told him, ‘You just blocked my ace, thanks a lot.'”

The Californians bounced back in the second set, breaking Melo – who hit two double faults in the fourth game, and saved one break point at 4-2, 30/40. Bob Bryan struck a backhand volley winner at 5-2, 30/40 on Melo’s serve for a Match tie-break. They won three of the first four points in the Match tie-break.

When asked whether they were consciousness of their age, Bob Bryan admitted, “We are conscious of our age. We’ve been playing on hard courts since we’ve been three years old. We feel the joints. We don’t bounce back as quick. We get massages now. I never got massages in my twenties. I’m gluten free now. I never thought I would be. He’s [Mike] been gluten free for 10 years. I had to resort to that because I was feeling the inflammation. We’re professional. We get the right sleep, eat the right foods, stay hydrated.”

Dodig and Melo were the first Croat and the first Brazilian to contest the doubles final at this tournament. They dropped to a 1-6 record in team finals and finished the season with a 30-21 mark.

Topics: Atp World Tour, Bryan Brothers, Ivan Dodig, Marcelo Melo, tennis doubles

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10sBalls_com says:

November 19, 2014 at 2:35 pm

BOB BRYAN AND MIKE BRYAN, THE PERFECT TEAM – http://t.co/S83C17WkN1 @Bryanbrothers @Bryanbros #tennis #ATPWorldTourFinals #tennisdoubles
RD_Tennistalk says:

November 20, 2014 at 9:36 am

RT @10sBalls_com: BOB BRYAN AND MIKE BRYAN, THE PERFECT TEAM – http://t.co/S83C17WkN1 @Bryanbrothers @Bryanbros #tennis #ATPWorldTourFinals…