Roger-Vasselin/Bryan Thriving In First Team Tournament

The top player in the ATP Doubles Rankings, Mike Bryan, might not be playing with twin brother Bob Bryan, who underwent hip surgery earlier this week. He’s not partnering Jack Sock, with whom he triumphed at Wimbledon last month, either.

But Bryan and Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin are enjoying plenty of success at the Citi Open, defeating Americans Denis Kudla and Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday evening to reach the final. Bryan, 40, has added three tour-level trophies to his collection so far in 2018, and he can bring his record total to 120 on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Kudla/Tiafoe saved two match points in the Match Tie-break to beat Ivan Dodig and Ben McLachlan 6-4, 6-7(4), 12-10. Bryan/Roger-Vasselin advanced to the semi-finals when Alexander Zverev and Mischa Zverev withdrew due to personal reasons.

In the final, Bryan/Roger-Vasselin will face a stiff test against fourth seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, who ousted Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus 7-5, 7-6(2). It is the fourth final of the season for the Scottish-Brazilian pair, who triumphed in Acapulco while advancing to the championship match at Doha and The Queen’s Club.

Murray and Soares have captured seven tour-level trophies together from 14 finals. After clinching their first straight-sets victory of the week, the team is 25-13 in 2018.

Did You Know?
Bryan has played Murray and Soares twice this year with his brother, Bob Bryan, splitting two FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings in Acapulco and Madrid.