Bryans Open Bid For Sixth Cincinnati Crown

Fourth seeds Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan began their campaign for a sixth Western & Southern Open crown on Wednesday in Cincinnati as they defeated Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez 6-2, 6-3.

The American twins improved to a 39-14 record at this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament as they dismissed their Spanish opponents in 53 minutes. They last won the title in 2014 (d. Pospisil/Sock), having won their first crown in 2003 (d. Arthurs/Hanley).

Third seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares also advanced with victory over a Spanish pairing, beating Pablo Carreno Busta and Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-3 in 61 minutes. The British/Brazilian duo are looking for their fourth title of the season, to add to trophies in Acapulco, Stuttgart and The Queen’s Club.

Second seeds Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo are through to the quarter-finals after beating Diego Schwartzman and Mischa Zverev 7-5, 6-2. Kubot and Melo currently lead the Emirates ATP Doubles Race To London halfway through what has been a stellar season, highlighted by winning the Wimbledon title (d. Marach/Pavic). They are chasing their third Masters 1000 crown of the year, following victories in Miami and Madrid.

Seventh seeds and last week’s Montreal finalists Rohan Bopanna and Ivan Dodig will open their Cincinnati campaign against Juan Sebastian Cabal and Fabio Fognini, after the Colombian/Italian duo defeated American wild cards Jack Sock and Jackson Withrow 7-6(5), 6-4.