Dominic Thiem will need to be on from the first ball if he wants to win his maiden Grand Slam title at this year’s US Open. The second seed stares down a treacherous quarter of the draw that includes red-hot eighth seed Roberto Bautista Agut, along with former US Open champions Andy Murray and Marin Cilic.

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Thiem begins his campaign against Jaume Munar and holds a flawless (3-0) record in their ATP Head2Head rivalry. Cilic, the No. 31 seed, looms as a potential third-round opponent and No. 15 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or 2012 champion Murray could await in the fourth round. Thiem has an opportunity to consolidate his spot in the Top 3 with only 10 points to defend after last year’s opening-round defeat in New York, but will need to recalibrate after a shocking opening-round loss at the Western & Southern Open.

The Austrian could meet Bautista Agut in the last eight and has historically struggled against the tenacious baseliner. Bautista Agut leads their ATP Head2Head series 3-1, but Thiem won their most recent clash at 2018 St. Petersburg.

The 32-year-old Spaniard is in top form this year on hard courts. He went undefeated (6-0) at the ATP Cup and is currently in the semi-finals of the Western & Southern Open. Bautista Agut also faces a challenging path and could meet fellow Western & Southern Open semi-finalist Milos Raonic, the No. 25 seed, in the third round.

Top seed Djokovic starts his fortnight against Damir Dzumhur and could face home favourite and No. 16 seed John Isner in the fourth round. Isner trails 2-10 in their ATP Head2Head series, but both of those victories came on North American hard courts. Seventh seed David Goffin sits in the opposite side of Djokovic’s quarter and faces a dangerous opening test in big-serving Reilly Opelka, who reached his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final this week.

Third seed Daniil Medvedev also aims to capture his first major championship. Last year’s US Open finalist (l. to Nadal) begins against Federico Delbonis. Medvedev defeated Grigor Dimitrov in their US Open quarter-final clash last year and could meet the No. 14 seed once again in the fourth round. But the Bulgarian must first get revenge for this year’s Australian Open defeat to Tommy Paul when they face off again in the first round. Eighth seed Matteo Berrettini might also await in the last eight and has plenty of positive memories to lean on after reaching his maiden Grand Slam semi-final here last year.

Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas begins against Albert Ramos-Vinolas. His path doesn’t get easier with a possible fourth-round clash against No. 13 against Cristian Garin, who picked up a pair of tour-level titles this February in Rio de Janeiro and Cordoba. Tsitsipas could have a potential popcorn clash in the quarter-finals with fifth seed Alexander Zverev, but will take confidence in having won the past five matches (5-1) in their ATP Head2Head series.

Zverev faces perhaps the most challenging opening-round test in the draw when he meets 2017 US Open finalist Kevin Anderson. The German has won all five matches in their ATP Head2Head rivalry, but the former World No. 5 has taken a set in three of those clashes.

Other intriguing first-round battles include No. 11 seed Karen Khachanov squaring off with reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Jannik Sinner and a battle of the ages as 38-year-old Paolo Lorenzi meets 19-year-old Brandon Nakashima. Murray starts against Yoshihito Nishioka and might face Auger-Aliassime in the second round.

The legacy of Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan isn’t just about their record-breaking achievements on the court; of their much-loved chest-bumping celebrations and energy, but it is also how they helped further popularise and promote the sport to new audiences in the 21st century.

In announcing their retirements today, tennis has lost two of its greatest ambassadors. Professional and personable, the Bryans did everything with a smile: whether you were a fan looking for an autograph or photo; a reporter with a late interview request, a wide-eyed youngster attending an ATP Tour tournament for the first time, or a sponsor seeking a meet-and-greet. Through their on-court performances, their character and integrity, the Bryans ensured everyone’s tournament experience was memorable.

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It was an ethos instilled into the Californian twins by their tennis-loving father, Wayne, who, throughout their legendary careers conducted clinics and pro-ams to rusty racquets or first-timers across the globe. From their very first professional tournament at the 1995 US Open, when, as 17-year-olds, they were mistaken by opponents for ball kids and not initially given accreditation badges, to 119 titles and 1,108 match wins later, the Bryans promoted doubles as a fun, social pursuit that taught key life skills. It was never about draws or prize money, but about doing their best at every tournament they played.

Appearing on the scene when another set of American brothers, Luke Jensen and Murphy Jensen, were entertaining fans with their brand of ‘grunge’ tennis, the Bryan twins took high-tempo, high-intensity tennis to new levels in the new millennia. Intrinsically, through their numerous achievements: 16 Grand Slams, 39 ATP Masters 1000s, four Nitto ATP Finals, 438 weeks at No. 1, the 2012 Olympic gold medal and 2007 Davis Cup triumph, the Bryans have influenced every professional doubles player of the past 20 years — and millions of amateur hackers globally. How many amateur club lefties now play on the Deuce court, mimic Bob’s athleticism or Mike’s net skills?

MOST DOUBLES TEAM MATCH WINS IN OPEN ERA

Team / Match Wins (Winning %) / Titles)
1) Bob Bryan / Mike Bryan 1,108-359 (.755) 119

2) Todd Woodbridge / Mark Woodforde 508-137 (.787) 61

3) Mark Knowles / Daniel Nestor 464-179 (.722) 40

4) Sergio Casal / Emilio Sanchez 448-215 (.676) 44

5) Robert Lutz / Stan Smith 380-138 (.691) 37

BRYANS MATCH WINS MILESTONES

Match Win No. / Tournament (Round)

No. 1 – 1996 Atlanta 1R d. Mark Keil / Dave Randall 76 76

No. 100 – 2002 Scottsdale 1R d. Felix Mantilla / Albert Portas 61 64

No. 200 – 2004 Sydney SF d. Yves Allegro / Rainer Schuettler 52 ret.

No. 300 – 2005 Washington F d. Wayne Black / Kevin Ullyett 64 62

No. 400 – 2007 Houston 1R d. James Auckland / Stephen Huss 62 62

No. 500 – 2008 Wimbledon 3R d. Frantisek Cermak / Jordan Kerr 64 64 62

No. 600 – 2010 Delray Beach SF d. Taylor Dent / Ryan Harrison 67(6) 75 10-4

No. 700 – 2011 Montreal 2R d. Feliciano Lopez / Fernando Verdasco 63 76(3)

No. 800 – 2013 Houston SF d. Johan Brunstrom / Jesse Levine 63 64

No. 900 – 2014 Shanghai 2R d. Lukasz Kubot / Robert Lindstedt 63 76(1)

No. 1,000 – 2016 Vienna QF d. Pablo Cuevas / Viktor Troicki 64 46 10-7

No. 1,100 – 2019 Cincinnati 1R d. Jeremy Chardy / Fabrice Martin 76(4) 36 10-7

No. 1,108 – 2020 Davis Cup Qualifier 1R d. Sanjar Fayziev / Denis Istomin 63 64

Fifteen years ago, when the ATP went in search of new audiences, and a better way of packaging doubles to appeal to more fans and television audiences, the Bryans — among other leading teams — were key to the introduction of the new doubles scoring system in 2006 and proponents of a grander vision for the team discipline.

Doubles is now watched by fans on stadium show courts far more than when the Bryans started their careers. It has extended the careers of players, who would normally have retired in their early 30s, and, importantly, the system of two sets to six (tie-break at 6-6), no-Ad games and a Match Tie-break (first to 10 points, win by two), has filtered down to club tennis across the world. Meaning, more than ever, amateur players have a link to the pros, and the pressure of not getting off to a good start in a Match Tie-break! It’s no surprise that the Bryans were presented the ATPTour.com Fans’ Favourite award on (another record) 14 occasions.

As flag bearers, universally known for their prowess since they first ascended to No. 1 in the FedEx ATP Doubles Rankings on 8 September 2003, the Bryans helped to develop team professionalism and the general level of play. Their 10 year-end No. 1 finishes as a team (2003, 2005-07, 2009-2014), mainly in partnership with their long-time coach David Macpherson, would never have been possible if they hadn’t evolved and forced their rivals to work harder year-on-year. There was no easing into a match against the Bryans, they intimidated with their energy and their astonishing achievements kept doubles in the spotlight. Because of their sustained excellence, the Bryans ran up all their titles in spite of playing with a target on their chests for the majority of their careers.

Father Time waits for no one, but in a season when the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc globally, there was some hope that the 42-year-old Bryans may reconsider their decision at the end of 2019, to lay down their racquets at the 2020 US Open. Today, though, they sign off on their own terms with records — number of Grand Slam titles, Masters 1000 titles and year-end No. 1 finishes — that may stand the test of time. Like other legendary teams of the past: John Newcombe and Tony Roche, Peter Fleming and John McEnroe, Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, they are in a very special pantheon.

Bryan Brothers By The Numbers
15,110 ATP points collected during the 2013 season
1108 match wins
439 weeks at No. 1
178 ATP Finals
119 ATP titles
61 ‘Big Titles’ (Grand Slams, Nitto ATP Finals, ATP Masters 1000s)
39 Masters 1000 titles
30 Grand Slam finals
25 Davis Cup wins
20 consecutive years winning an ATP Tour title
16 Grand Slam titles
15 consecutive years making a Grand Slam final
14 time ATP Fan Favorite Doubles Team
10 years as year-end No. 1
10 consecutive years winning at least one Grand Slam title
7 consecutive Grand Slam finals
6 Masters 1000s titles in one season (2014)
4 consecutive Grand Slam titles
2 Olympic medals
1 Career Golden Masters
1 Davis Cup title
1 Olympic gold medal

FEATURES TO ALSO READ
A Winning Combination (November 2011)
100 Team Titles, A Remarkable Achievement (September 2014)
Bryans Complete Career Golden Masters (October 2014)
Bryan Brothers Clinch 1,100th Match Win (August 2019)

Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan have announced the end of their historic doubles partnership just days ahead of the US Open, scene of their major championship debut in 1995.

As the most accomplished team in doubles history, the Bryan brothers captured an Open Era record 119 trophies in 26-season careers, including all four Grand Slams, all nine ATP Masters 1000s, Nitto ATP Finals (four titles) and Olympic gold medal. They also hold the all-time team records for Grand Slam titles (16 from 30 finals) and ATP Masters 1000 crowns (39 from 59 finals).

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“We’re most proud of the way we devoted ourselves completely to the game and gave our full effort every day,” said Bob Bryan of their decision to retire. “Our loyalty toward each other never wavered and we are leaving professional tennis with zero regrets. We’ll miss the competition and camaraderie amongst the players. We’ll also miss the excitement of gearing up for a big match and playing for the roar of the fans.”

“We feel it’s the right time to walk away,” Mike Bryan said. “We’ve given over 20 years to the tour, and we are now looking forward to the next chapter of our lives. With that said, we feel very blessed to have been able to play the game of doubles for so long. We are grateful to have had the opportunities in the beginning of the year to play and say our goodbyes to the fans. Winning our final event in Delray Beach and clinching the Davis Cup tie in Honolulu are moments we’ll forever remember and cherish.”

Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman, said: “As the most successful men’s doubles team of all-time, Bob and Mike have rewritten the record books throughout their phenomenal careers. It’s difficult to put into words what they have brought to the game, not only on the court but also off it. As flag bearers for men’s doubles, they have been a model of consistency and excellence for the past 20 years, winning more matches, titles, and holding more weeks at No. 1 than any team in history. Hugely popular wherever they have played across the globe, they’ve been exemplary role models and done more for the promotion of doubles than anyone could have imagined. On behalf of the ATP, I would like to thank them for everything they have done for the sport. The Tour will miss them greatly, and we wish them all the best as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.”

The Bryans were the standard bearers for doubles for more than 17 years, since they first ascended to No. 1 in the FedEx ATP Doubles Rankings on 8 September 2003. They spent 438 total weeks and ended 10 seasons as the No. 1 team [2003, 2005-07, 2009-2014]. Mike, who became the oldest doubles No. 1 at age 40 on 16 July 2018, also spent the most weeks at the summit of the team game (506). Bob, who underwent hip surgery in August 2018, spent a total of 439 weeks at No. 1.

Bringing their own energy and charisma to the court, they endeared themselves to the public throughout the world and significantly helped grow the sport’s popularity, appearing in 178 tour-level finals (119-59) and lifting trophies in 34 different cities. They also helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 2007 and at the 2012 London Olympics won the gold medal, adding to their 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medal.

During a career-best season in 2013, the Bryan brothers compiled an 11-4 record in tour-level finals, including three Grand Slams and five Masters 1000 titles, to earn 15,110 FedEx ATP Doubles Rankings points. The twins, who also won six ATP Masters 1000 titles in 2014, reached seven straight Grand Slam doubles finals between 2005 Australian Open and 2006 Wimbledon. From 2005 to 2017, and again last year for the 14th time, the Bryans were presented the ATP Tour Fans’ Favourite Team award. They earned the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award in 2015.

Bob underwent right hip surgery on 2 August 2018, but the Bryan brothers reunited at the start of the 2019 season and went on to lift two ATP Tour titles. They claimed their 1,100th team match win at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati on 13 August 2019, and on 23 February 2020 – in what proved to be their last tournament – captured a sixth crown at the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com, marking the 20th consecutive year they had lifted an ATP Tour title. They finish their legendary careers with a 1,108-359 team record overall.

As a sport, tennis is collectively taking a stance against racial inequality and social injustice that once again has been thrust to the forefront in the United States. The USTA, ATP Tour, and WTA have decided to recognise this moment in time by pausing tournament play at the Western & Southern Open on Thursday, August 27. Play will resume on Friday, August 28.

Milos Raonic saved a match point to defeat Filip Krajinovic 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-5 on Wednesday evening, advancing to the semi-finals of the Western & Southern Open.

Krajinovic, who made the final of the 2017 Rolex Paris Masters, acquitted himself well, serving for the victory at 6-4, 5-4. But Raonic raised his aggression and eventually triumphed after two hours and 43 minutes.

Krajinovic held match point at 5-4 in the decider, with Raonic serving at 30/40. The former World No. 3 missed his first serve, but he backed up his second serve with a series of punishing forehands to stave off defeat.

Raonic will next play reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, whom he defeated in straight sets at this year’s Australian Open. That was the pair’s only previous ATP Head2Head meeting.

Thirty years ago, Andre Agassi made a bold fashion statement at the US Open. The American wore the daring Nike Challenge Court collection in New York, a series of rebellious designs that broke the unwritten rules of tennis fashion.

During the next three weeks at the Western & Southern Open and the US Open, his charge, Grigor Dimitrov, will be at the forefront of a new take on the 1990 Agassi collection. Dimitrov is no stranger to bold fashion statements. At this year’s Australian Open, the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion wore an eye-catching dark purple and yellow Nike tracksuit.

“I absolutely love it. I spoke to Andre about it and I have been dying to wear some of those things. I am so glad I am able to do it,” said Dimitrov. “It is one of the most iconic collections there has ever been. No doubt about it. They have done such a great job with the collection this year. Super amazing stuff… I love the colours and the denim and everything that comes with it.”

Shop the Nike Challenge Court collection at Tennis Warehouse in the United States and Europe.

With modern and functional fabrics, Nike’s designers have restored the classic graphics of 1990, including the flaming tennis ball. The collection’s signature graphics have been reimagined, using torn paper, coquille board and snippets of the original design. The unconventional Challenge Court gear have not only been embraced by Dimitrov, but also Top 20 stars Karen Khachanov, Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

 

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First win after 5 months ?✅?? New outfit @nikecourt x @agassi ?

A post shared by Karen Khachanov |Карен Хачанов (@karenkhachanov) on Aug 23, 2020 at 12:28pm PDT

Agassi’s iconic denim shorts, known as ‘jorts’, are back in a new form. The Nike Fall NY Flex Ace 9″ Shorts have the same denim look, but are made with a stretchy, lightweight fabric.

By looking through its past, Nike has managed to create a bold new look for its leading stars. For Dimitrov and his fellow ATP Tour rivals, the hope will be that their fashion choices earn them the same success that Agassi enjoyed 30 years ago. The Las Vegas native advanced to the 1990 US Open final in the famous apparel.

“[Andre and I] exchanged a little message together. We were on the phone just talking about that and he was like, ‘Boy, time flies. Let’s see how it is going to look on you.’ I think it is special. He appreciates it a lot as well,” said Dimitrov.

“I think there are periods in somebody’s life that we are always going to remember, we are never going to forget and we always want to have more of it as well. Now we are able to revive it, bring it back.”

For more information on the Nike Challenge Court collection, visit Tennis Warehouse in the United States and Europe.