Team GOAT? Bryans Set Doubles Record With 62nd Career Title
A big congrats to Bob and Mike Bryan – better known as the Bryan Twins – for setting the record for most doubles team titles yesterday. The California kids won their 62nd career doubles crown Sunday after they beat Butorac and Rojer 6-7(6), 6-2, 10-7. ADHEREL
“Sixty two brings a smile to our face,” Bob said. “It’s been an emotional ride, talking about it every day for the past couple of months. To finally do it is incredible.
“It was a flood of emotion. I never thought we’d be this consistent, this healthy our whole career. Sixty one looked like it was on the other side of the moon. If you stay consistent, and never give up on each other – even in dry spells – anything can happen. We’ve never given up on each other.”
Their sixth LA crown moved the Bryans, who grew up in Camarillo, Cali., one past Aussie greats “the Woodies”, Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge.
We often discuss who the men’s GOAT is – Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal or someone else – but in doubles team play you could make the case that the Bryans are in the GOAT.
Since turning pro in the late 90s the brothers have accumulated eight career Grand Slam titles and finished as the No. 1 team on the ATP tennis circuit five times not to mention their unrivaled excellence in Davis Cup.
That’s better then American greats John McEnroe and Peter Fleming who won seven Slams in 57 titles.
The Woodies, however, still edge the Bryans with an Open Era record 11 majors plus the Golden Slam in 1996.
But at just 32, the Bryans have more than enough time to build on their numbers and if they can stay healthy they should clear the Woodies and then Newcombe/Roche (12) for most career Slam doubles titles all-time.
So consider just how lucky we are to be tennis fans in this generation. Not only do we get to watch the singles GOAT but also the doubles team GOAT.
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