Bryans To Finish No. 1

© Getty ImagesThe Bryan twins won a pair of Grand Slam crowns in 2011, including Wimbledon.

American duo to finish year No. 1 for seventh time in nine years

American brothers Bob and Mike Bryan have clinched the year-end No. 1 ATP Doubles Team Ranking for a record seventh time. By winning their first round match in the Valencia Open on Wednesday, the Bryans have guaranteed that they cannot be overtaken by No. 2 team Michael Llodra and Nenad Zimonjic.

The 33-year-old twins' memorable 2011 season includes two Grand Slam crowns (Australian Open, Wimbledon), giving them 11 in their career, and two ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles (Monte-Carlo, Madrid). They were also champions in Houston, at the Queen’s Club in London and Vienna.

The Bryans, who have won at least five titles in each of the past 10 years, compiled a 7-3 mark in finals this season. They have the most team titles in the Open Era with 74.

They also finished as ATP World Tour No. 1 Doubles Team in 2003, '05-07 and '09-10.  As individuals, they both have been ranked No. 1 in the ATP Doubles Rankings for 265 weeks and they will surpass John McEnroe’s record of 270 weeks on Dec. 12.

Bob said, "We're obviously extremely pumped to finish at No. 1, especially with the quality of teams on the doubles tour. It's always our ultimate goal when we start the year and we'll definitely look back on 2011 with positive feelings. I want to congratulate our biggest rivals Mirnyi-Nestor, Llodra-Zimonjic, and the Indian Express (Bhupathi-Paes) on highly successful seasons and we look forward to another awesome event with the eight best teams in London.

"Breaking McEnroe's record is something that is hard to fathom. He's such a legend and to achieve something like this won't truly set in for awhile. Thanks to our great coach, David Macpherson, my beautiful and supportive wife, our parents who are always rooting from their computer screen back home, and all the tennis fans who get behind the great game of doubles."

Mike added, "It's always a special feeling finishing the year as the top team. I think it's more satisfying than winning a Slam because it represents the season as a whole. When we now look back at 2011, it will now be with a lot of fond memories.  The level of tennis always keeps getting stronger, so I'm most proud of our willingness to improve as we get older. I especially want thank our coach and one of our best friends, David Macpherson, who always is there for us win or lose and always pushes us to strive for more."      

No. 1 ATP Doubles Teams (since 2000)
2011 – Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan
2010 -- Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan
2009 -- Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan
2008 -- Daniel Nestor/Nenad Zimonjic
2007 -- Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan
2006 -- Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan
2005 -- Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan
2004 -- Mark Knowles/Daniel Nestor
2003 -- Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan
2002 -- Mark Knowles/Daniel Nestor
2001 -- Jonas Bjorkman/Todd Woodbridge
2000 -- Todd Woodbridge/Mark Woodforde