Bryan Brothers Win Fourth Season Finale Title
After a slow start at this year’s Barclays World Tour Finals, Bob and Mike Bryan cemented their fourth year-end championships in six attempts in London.
The title marks their 103rd career title as a pairing, and came following their competitive final against seventh seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo. The American’s rallied to defeat the formidable pairing 6-7(5), 6-2, 10-7.
“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.”
The legendary American pairing will end their season with ten titles and a record of 64-11.
“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.”
When asked whether the pair could be expected to maintain their current pace over the next few years, the Bryans responded that they had made the necessary adjustments to prolong their careers.
“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.”