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On A Royal Roll — Bob and Mike Defend Monte Carlo Title
For Fifth Rolex Trophy

World #1 duo Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan captured their 106th title on Sunday as they won the Monte-Carlo Championship for the fifth time. The Americans defeated Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini of Italy, 7-6(3), 6-1 in the final.

Monte Carlo 2015 WinWatched by their friend, Prince Albert of Monaco, the Bryans edged a tight first set in a tie-break before running away with the match in the second set. They broke twice for a 4-0 lead before going on to break a third time in the seventh game and seal victory in just 69 minutes. The Americans saved all four break points they faced and won 73 per cent of their service points.

The Bryans have a 31-7 record at the venerable and stunningly picturesque Monte-Carlo Country Club and added to the championships they won in 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2014. They have contested the final for five years in a row, finishing runners-up in 2013.

"I thought we competed very well today," said Mike Bryan. "We stayed patient. The breaks weren't coming early. They were hitting great serves. We were just feeling them out. We haven't played them for a few years, but I thought we played a really solid breaker. We're really excited to come in here and get the job done in Monte-Carlo. It's one of our favorite tournaments. We always play well because we're in a good frame of mind."

The 36-year-old Bryans have built momentum as the year has progressed. After a disappointing start at the Australian Open, where they lost in the third round, they won Delray Beach (d. Klaasen/Paes) and a few weeks later triumphed at the Masters 1000 tournament in Miami, defeating Pospisil-Sock, after also beating them in the Cincinnati final.

Mike Overhead"It's been a great year so far now that we've won the last two Masters 1000s," said Bob Bryan. "We're playing healthy. To beat one of the top teams in the world in a big final, it bodes well. We're going to go home for a couple weeks, freshen up, come back to Madrid and hopefully play another good tournament."

"We're happy with this little resurgence we've had. We put ourselves in the thick of it in the race, which is nice, because we started way back. We're just looking to build from here. The big thing is that we're playing well and we have confidence. The results should take care of themselves."

Fast Facts
*** Over the past few weeks, the Bros. have won back to back Master Series Events at Miami and Monte Carlo. They have also captured 5 of the last 6 Masters Series Tournaments - - - Cincy, Shanghai, Paris, Miami, and Monte Carlo. They continue to be #1 and have a lead of 5,690 in the Doubles Rankings.

*** Their wins at Miami included: Ben Becker (Germany)-Scott Lipsky (USA), 6-2, 7-6; Robert Lindstedt (Sweden)-Jurgen Melzer (Austria), 6-1, 6-2; Kevin Anderson (South Africa)-Jeremy Chardy (France), 6-4, 4-6, 10-6; John Isner-Sam Querrey (USA), 7-6, 7-6; and Vasek Pospisil (Canada)-Jack Sock (USA), 6-3, 1-6, 10-8.

*** At Monte Carlo this past week they defeated: Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria)-Max Mirnyi (Belarus), 6-2, 6-2; Marcel Granollers-Marc Lopez (Spain), 6-4, 2-6, 10-4; Marcin Matkowski (Poland)-Nenad Zimonjic (Serbia), 6-4, 6-2; and Simone Bolelli-Fabio Fognini (Italy), 7-6, 6-1.

*** After a quick rest at home in Florida, Mike and Bob will play Madrid, Rome, and the French Open in Paris. Then on to the grasscourt season at Queens in London and then Wimbledon.

*** Their Summer Schedule includes: three World Team Tennis Matches playing for the California Dream at Sacramento on July 23, Boston on July 25, and Philadelphia on July 26. They will then play the BBT Atlanta Open - - - on the week of July 27 - - - http://www.bbtatlantaopen.com/; the Citi Open at Washington DC on August 3 - - - http://www.citiopentennis.com; Montreal on August 10, Cincy on August 17, and the US Open, starting on the week of August 31.

Covering the Middle*** Since January of 2014 the California twins have a record of 84-17, with 13 titles, including the US Open, the London Masters Cup, and 8 Masters Series Events. In fact, the Bryans have now won a total of 34 Masters Series titles during their career and have won an amazingly consistent 8 of the past 12 Masters Series Events, while also reaching one Final, one Semi and one Quarter.

*** The Bros. were happy to play yet another Tim Stallard Event - - - the Lone Star Tennis Classic - - - in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, April 5th. The Pro Am, Clinic, Exo, and party with the Bryan Bros. Band were all sold out and jam packed and so much fun and raised some good funds for the Bryan Brothers Foundation that supports deserving kids and kids programs in Southern California and across the nation.

*** The Bryan Bros. Band also played the gala Thursday Night party at the beautiful River Oaks Country Club on Thursday Night, April 9.

*** The BB Band also played before 5,000 fans at the Indian Wells Tournament on Thursday, March 12 and there was a special feature on Mike 'n Bob and their band and music done by CNN - - - http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/03/20/spc-open-court-bryan-brothers.cnn
The band is loaded with talented musicians and singers, including Jim Bogios on drums and vocals (when he is not on tour with the Counting Crows); George Holdcroft on sax, piano and vocals; Dan DeShara on guitar and vocals; Jimmy Wolff on drums and vocals; while Mike plays lead guitar and drums and Bob plays keyboard bass, piano and organ.

*** Mike and Bob and Coach Bryan say thanks and congratulations to Houston Tournament Director Van Barry on his wonderful work running the US Claycourt Championships for so many years. There was a fitting ceremony at the tournament last week honoring him for his career there at the club and for the tournament. He has recently been named to become the new Executive Director of USTA Texas and he will continue to do important work for tennis in that lofty position. He will consult for the tournament and help with recruiting the pro players.

*** Bronwyn Greer, who has been so dedicated as the Asst. Tournament Director will now become the Tournament Director and she is very experienced and energetic will do a great job. We admire how she handles the all details of that event - - - large and small - - - and how she is so nice to work with. We especially like the fact that she gets so many High School Teams to come out and attend the tournament - - - so good for tennis!

*** Gilly Agosto did her usual rock solid job on the Transportation there at River Oaks and her son Bobby rocked the house on Thursday Night with his rockin' rendition of "Walkin' the Dog."

*** Coach Bryan has been on the road most of the past 10 weeks doing events in Greensboro, Akron, Montgomery, Santa Barbara, Indian Wells, Palm Springs, Miami, Austin, Houston, and Columbus, Georgia, emceeing and doing clinics at the wonderful Celebrity Tennis Classic that raised $207,000 for the John B. Amos Cancer Center. Michael Stewart was so dedicated and hospitable in heading up the event, while Dave Neuhart brought in 15 top PBI Pros from all over the world - - - and what a great group of guys and gals to work with!

*** Coach Bryan returns home to introduce his longtime pal and tennis icon and Hall of Famer Stan Smith at a gala dinner in his honor at Ojai on Friday Night, April 24. The event has been set up and hosted by the charismatic and energetic Mark Weil to raise funds for the Libby Park Tennis Facility that hosts The Ojai each April.

*** We send along or most heartfelt sympathy to Joan and the family on the passing of Jack Darrah. Jack was very warm and dynamic man and a great tennis leader. He founded the Tennis Managers Assn. of SoCal and ran the great Westlake Tennis and Swim Club for several years. He was also a very fine player and coached many top American players through the years. He was always very kind and helpful to me and to Mike and Bob. And what a hearty laugh he had. Tennis and California are better because of his exemplary life. We will miss him . . ..