Bryans Break Team Titles Record In LA

© AFP / Getty ImagesThe Bryans celebrate their sweetest victory.

Americans Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan made history on Sunday at the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles as they won a record-breaking 62nd tour-level doubles title together with a hard-fought 6-7(6), 6-2, 10-7 victory over Eric Butorac and Jean-Julien Rojer in the final of the ATP World Tour 250 hard-court tennis tournament.

The 32-year-old twins, who were appearing in their 100th tour-level team final (62-38 record), broke the record they had previously held jointly with recent Hall-of-Fame inductees Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde. They tied the record in May with victory at the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open (d. Nestor-Zimonjic), one of six tour-level titles they have won this season.

Victory marked the brothers’ sixth title in Los Angeles, adding to their triumphs in 2001 (d. Gambill-Roddick), 2004 (d. Arthurs-Hanley), 2006 (d. Butorac-Murray), 2007 (d. Lipsky-Martin) and 2009 (d. Becker-Moser).

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In the match tie-break the Bryans raced to a 5-0 lead only to see Butorac and Rojer claw back to 7-all. But the twins held  firm under pressure, winning the final three points of the match to claim their sixth title of the year.

Mike Bryan said: “It’s sweet, feels awesome, hanging out with family and friends after the match. It’s a cool feeling.”

Bob Bryan said: “Sixty two brings a smile to our face. It’s been an emotional ride, talking about it every day for the past couple of months. To finally do it is incredible. There were definitely nerves out there and those guys were playing great. It was a very hard fought match. Our legs felt like jelly, arms spaghetti… It was a flood of emotion. I never thought we’d be this consistent, this healthy our whole career. Sixty one looked like it was on the other side of the moon. If you stay consistent, and never give up on each other – even in dry spells - anything can happen. We’ve never given up on each other.”

Woodforde was in Los Angeles to commemorate the historic achievement, and paid tribute to the Bryans on court after the final. "For many, many years you've been traveling in elite company. Thanks to the victory today you're in rarefied air," Woodforde said. "You guys stand together as one. I know this 62nd victory has been waiting since May. Our run sort of ended because I elected to retire, but I know you two will continue for years to come. The floodgates will open entirely, so I know 70, 80 will come."