Together Again, Bryans Beat Skupskis At Roland Garros

Playing together, the Bryan brothers have a perfect record in first-round action at Roland Garros – “20 for 20,” quipped Bob Bryan following their win Tuesday. But last year in Paris, Mike Bryan bowed out in his opening match when he teamed up with fellow American Sam Querrey in a loss to Ken Skupski and Neal Skupski.

Back alongside his brother this year, Mike avenged that defeat. The seventh-seeded Bryans beat the Skupskis 7-5, 7-6(6) on Thursday to advance to the third round at the clay-court major. They also won the clash of brothers earlier this year in the final of the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com, the Americans’ first title since Bob’s return from hip surgery.

Top seeds Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo came from behind to defeat Marcus Daniell and Wesley Koolhof 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, matching their team’s best run at Roland Garros, a Round of 16 finish last year  (l. to Bopanna/Roger-Vasselin). Also in second-round action, Robin Haase and Frederik Nielsen rallied for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Brits Daniel Evans and Cameron Norrie.

Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, who won the title last year with Pierre-Hugues Herbert, joined forces with Austrian Jurgen Melzer for a 6-2, 6-2 win over Italians Marco Cecchinato and Andreas Seppi in the first round. Mahut completed the career Grand Slam earlier this year when he and Herbert claimed the Australian Open title.