Bryans Capture 60th Doubles Crown

© Getty ImagesThe Bryans won their fourth title of the season.

Reigning ATP World Tour Champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan moved to within one tour-level title of matching Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde’s Open Era record haul of 61 trophies after regaining the Internazionali BNL d’Italia crown Sunday in Rome.

In an all-American final at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament, the second-seeded Bryans defeated John Isner and Sam Querrey 6-2, 6-3 in just 49 minutes to capture their fourth tour-level title of the season.

“It’s getting pretty close now (to the Open Era record)," said Mike Bryan. "Already four titles this year, so the next one’s going to be the big one. It’s going to be a big final, a lot of nerves. We’re hoping to tie it before we get out of Europe. We don’t want to get the monkey on our back and have to be thinking about it, so we want to do it as quick as possible.

“It’s huge for us to be considered a great team like the Woodies. We’re hoping to do it. Probably Wimbledon would be the best place to do it in because that’s on TV live back in the States, Centre Court match, that would be exciting."

Last year’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals champions, currently second in the 2010 ATP Doubles Team Rankings, earned 1000 ATP World Tour ranking points. The top eight teams at the end of the season will qualify for the circuit finale, to be held at The O2 in London 21-28 November. 

In the first all-American final in Rome in the Open Era, the Bryans swiftly secured the opening set with two service breaks in the fourth and eighth games. They then closed out victory in the second set with a break of serve in the eighth game before Mike Bryan served out to 15.

The Bryans were contesting the final at the Foro Italico for the fifth time. They finished runner-up in 2005, 2007 and 2009 and captured the title in 2008 (d. Nestor-Zimonjic).

The Bryans, who celebrated their 32nd birthday on Thursday, have a perfect 4-0 record in tour-level finals this season after triumphing at the Australian Open in January, Delray Beach in February and Houston on clay last month. They captured their first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title since Cincinnati in August 2008 and improved to a 14-12 record in Masters 1000 finals.

Isner and Querrey were appearing in their second ATP World Tour final together, after capturing their first title together in Memphis (d. Hutchins-Kerr) in February. Both players were trying to capture their third career ATP World Tour title.

“Those guys are great guys. Two of our best friends on tour," complimented Mike Bryan. "We were joking that they’re going after our Davis Cup spot. They’re the future of American tennis. They’re going to have bright futures. With their weapons they can do singles and doubles. They want to go to London and make the Masters (Barclays ATP World Tour Finals) in doubles and I think they’re going to do it.”