Bob & Mike Are One Win Away From 100 Tour-Level Titles
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan dominated the highly-anticipated Western & Southern Open final, handing Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock their first loss with a 6-3, 6-2 victory on Sunday.
The Bryans needed just 53 minutes to successfully defend their Cincinnati crown, winning their 99th team title in their 150th final. The top seeds won an impressive 86 per cent of service points, including 26 of 29 on their first serve. They took advantage of three of six break point opportunities.
"It was amazing to walk out to a packed house today," said Bob. "It was an incredible atmosphere and once again the Cincy crowds have brought out the best in us. Mike and I were really sharp right from the first ball and are extremely excited about this victory.
After taking the first set 6-3, the Bryans earned the decisive break in the second, for a 3-2 lead, when Pospisil sent a volley long. Another Pospisil error would give them the match, as the Canadian was unable to handle a curling slice approach.
Bob and Mike will look to make history at the US Open as the first doubles tandem to win 100 tour-level titles. Their successful title defense in Cincinnati gives them a record 30 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies, including five at this prestigious hard-court event (2003, '08, '10, '13). The American duo, who have already booked their 12th trip to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals as the top-ranked tandem in the Emirates ATP Doubles Team Rankings, improved to 45-10 on the year.
"Hats off to Jack and Vasek on their impressive run this summer," said Mike. "It's great for doubles to have another marketable team competing for the biggest titles and we look forward to having more competitive battles against them in the future."
Fast Facts:
*** Their Cincinnati wins included: def. Eric Butorac (USA)-Raven Klaasen (South Africa),6-1, 6-4; def. Juls Rojer (Netherlands)-Horia Tecau (Romania), 7-6, 6-7, 10-2; Sam Querrey-Stevie Johnson (USA), 6-3, 6-7, 10-8; and Vacek Pospisil (Canada)-Jack Sock (USA), 6-3, 6-2.
*** While in Cincy the Bros. enjoyed headlining the Doubles Showdown on Monday and you might enjoy this video clip of this rockin’ event that featured many of the top doubles stars in the world: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/08/33/Cincinnati-Monday-Doubles-Showdown.aspx Coach Bryan emceed and ran the event and big thanks go out to Eric Butorac and Bruno Soares for all their efforts and they were beautifully assisted by George Ciz and Robin Holtermann of the ATP. And special thanks to Gina Marano ofUSTA Southern and the Atlanta Tournament for her help on the day of the event.
*** Mike, Bob and Coach Bryan also did some junior and adult clinics at the picturesqueFour Bridges Club while in Cincy. And special thanks to Jason Gray for putting it all together. Mike and Bob had a blast performing with the Phillip Myers Band at a gala evening dinner dance for charity. Thanks to our friend John Reichel for his help as well.
*** Hope you’ve seen the Bros. great and innovative new esurance commercial that is running lots on TV right now. Thanks to Gary Tolman and the great people at esurance.
*** Humungous thanks to Dave McKinney for once again staging the fantastic V-Grid Tennis Fest at the venerable and class ySpanish Hills Country Club, benefitting the Bryan Brothers Foundation. Thanks to everyone in the Ventura County and Santa Barbara tennis communities for coming together for this wonderful feel good day. Huge thanks to Mike Chiecky for being the primary sponsor for the fifth straight year and also playing in the Pro Am and thanks also to esurance and Gary Tolman, who also played in the Pro Am under the watchful eye of his coach and Hall of Famer, Rosie Casals. Alexander Cadillac was so supportive as always.
*** Mike and Bob were so, so appreciative that Vika Azarenka came out to play in theExo at the Tennis Fest along with the top junior in the nation, Kimberly Yee. The Mixed Doubles was absolutely sparkling and so entertaining.See the picture at left.Their longtime pal and former UCLA star and tour player and now a top TV commentator,Justin Gimelstob, was so supportive, as always, to play in the Men’s Doubles Exo. Other pros in the Pro Am included Hank Pfister, Jeff Tarango, Tony Graham, Tracie Currie, Quinn Borchard, and players from Pepperdine, UCSB and Westmont College. Ams likeCurtis Wright and Peter Brual and Trevor Short came across the country to play so well in the event and it was grand having Mark Shipp, Tim Warren, the Bros. Accountant and theAccountant for the BBF, and Harold Edwards, who also made a generous contribution to the event - - - his son Sam will be doing some big things for the Alabama Tennis Team this season.
*** We also appreciate the nice donations to the Bryan Brothers Foundation from so many people, including Dr. Lee Wan, Gary and Layne Cuoco, Kaley Cuoco, Jim and Kathy Olson, John McCampbell, and Mike Sidley. $119,000 was generated by this one day event and in the past few years, a total of over $555,000 has been donated to help deserving kids and kids programs. Terry Lynch of the VCJTA, Jennifer Lawler of the VCJTA, CathyAnn Simon of the SBTP, Bill Locker of the Camarillo Boys and Girls Club and Gwen Speakes of the Meadowlarks all pitched in to help promote the Tennis Fest.
*** Brian Giffin and Sean Callaghan did their usual amazing and dedicated job at the Tennis Fest. Ryan Wolfington and his top juniors from Nevada were amazingly dialed in and helpful as always - - - and they were all thrilled to see one of their own - - - Kim Yeeplay so darn well in the Exo with the three world #1s - - - Vika, Mike and Bob. And super thanks to John McCampbell, Jimmy ‘n Chipper Wolff for doing the gig and helping with the musical equipment and PA system for the event. Gracie, Sylvia and JB Garcia also did a very fine job at the event.
*** John Tobias, Mike and Bob’s agent, and the head of the LaGardere Agency, was also so very helpful - - - as usual - - - the Tennis Fest. His little Emma Rose is as cute as can be.
*** Bryan Ogle and K-Swiss were so nice to provide clothes for the Tennis Fest and it was great having Bryan with us in Camarillo and also in Cincy last week. Great guy. Great clothes and shoes!
*** Ryan Macaulay has been behind the Bryan Brothers Foundation since Jump Street and is always helpful and supportive.
*** Mike and Bob congratulate the great John Whitlinger on his retirement as head coach of the Stanford Tennis Team. John was a fantastic coach for the Bros. during their two years on the Farm and they learned so much from him about the game and about life and they had so many great times and wins together.
*** The guys also want to congratulate their Stanford Teammate and their longtime pal, Paul Goldstein, on being named the new coach. Paul is the personification of a winner and will do a great job. And like John, he is loaded with class and determination.
*** You want to see a cute little clip? When Micaela - - - Bob andMichelle’s 2 ½ year old daughter - - - visited Grandpa and Grandma Bryan’s house for a week after Wimbledon. This talented little dynamo had a blast going to the Santa Barbara Zoo, visiting the famed wonder horses Monty and Elan, and playing croquet and tennis. Besides all these activities she also kept grabbing Wayne’s little finger and saying a plaintive “Peeze!!!” And then she would drag him into his music studio four or five times a day to play thedrums and piano and guitar and sing on the mike. The two of them worked up a song together. It is called Nagu and Grandpa did the music and she wrote the lyrics - - - she only knows about 20 words and most of them are in the song. Micaela’s Special Words: Peeze = please. Nagu= water, milk, bottle or hose. Monsto = monster. Yo toyne, my toyne = your turn, my turn. Hope you like this 2 minute clip and hope you can watch it on your computer screen: http://youtu.be/BMid2ZPF_rk
*** Following Cincy, the Bros. will journey to NY and spend some time with friends onLong Island and then play an Exo against Horia Tecau and Juls Rojer at Rye for Premier Tennis Travel’s Rem Reynolds and Trevor Short. Their events are always the best and they run the famed Necker Cup each November with Sir Richard Branson in the British Virgin Islands. Mike and Bob have always loved their fun and first class events.
*** The Bryan Brothers will make an appearance at the Oakley Store in New York City on Saturday late afternoon and will be staying at the Ritz Carlton during their time in New York through the courtesy of Chris Jeffries.
*** Coach Bryan will stay at the Marriott through the courtesy of Gary Kittay. Gary’s talented son, Ben, just won his first gold ball as a 10 year old in the National 12s Doubles inLittle Rock last week. Coach Bryan worked with Ben at Washington DC and when they were finished he asked Gary, “Who is Ben playing doubles with?” “Not playing.” Coach Bryan scolded Gary and he promised to get Ben a partner when they got to Arkansas the next day. And then, bingo, the kid wins the tourney. And besides a Suite for the US Open, you now owe me a dinner, Gary!
*** Wayne and Kathy had a blast attending the gala birthday party for Ryan Sweeting a few weeks ago. You will remember that Ryan won the Houston Tournament a few years ago and played World Team Tennis for the Sacramento Caps for a couple of seasons and he is a pal of Mike and Bob and Wayne’s. Mike and Lucie set Ryan up with a date with Kaley Cuoco following WTT Season last August.It was to be a double tennis date. To say thatRyan and Kaley hit it off would be the understatement of the year. Seven weeks later they were engaged and four months later they were married. Anyway, Kaley and Ryan recently purchased the home of Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom, and the party was held there and it was amazing. Best part of the night was when Kaley brought Ryan in blindfolded and she had a huge black curtain with all their friends and family crowded behind the curtain. She took his blindfold off and then, after a pause, she had the curtain dropped revealing the huge throng. Ryan felt to his knees and burst into tears of shock and joy. Incredible . . .
*** We say well done to Lucie Bryan on all her horse title ribbons of late. She vows she is going to have more ribbons than Mike has Grand Slam Cups . . . and soon! She and her wonder horse, Monty, are great together and to watch them jump is truly amazing.
*** Mike and Bob send along their congrats to Jim Bogios, the renowned drummer of theCounting Crows on their great new album that is about to be released and also their sold out tour that is going on right now. And they are hoping to catch up with him in New York. Bogios plays drums with the Bryan Bros. Band when his busy tour schedule permits. He is also a very fine player and hits with the guys whenever they are together. His and his wife Tatum have a cute little daughter named Tatum.
*** The entire Bryan Family was crushed and heartbroken at the passing of their friend Michael Johns two weeks ago. As you well know, Michael was a very accomplished singer and was a finalist on American Idol. Over the past six years he has become very close with Mike and Bob and had performed with their Bryan Brothers Band at Charity Events all over the United States. He was also a great supporter of the Bryan Brothersand followed all their matches in person or on TV or on the computer and they spent many hours together on stage and on court - - - he had been a top ranked junior from Australia. They were all together the week before he died and he sang theStar Spangled Banner absolutely beautifully at the San Diego Aviators World Team Tennis Matches. He was to sing with the guys at two big charity events they were performing at Toronto on Monday and Tuesday and they got the terrible and shockingly sad news on Friday when they were playing inWashington DC. Michael was so very warm and kind. He was loaded with charisma and musical talent. Mike and Bob dedicated their Cincy Title to Michael and they will think about him every time they play music . . . He was one of a kind and he will be missed . . . Life is short, but art endures . . .
*** Here is a clip of MJ playing with the Bros. in Mobile, Alabama a couple of years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9dpFN8EO-k&feature=share
*** And this past March at Indian Wells: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeiQ1y_p8wE&feature=youtu.be
-ATP