2013/06/19

Nadal, Bryan Brothers First To Qualify For Barclays ATP World Tour Finals

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(June 10, 2013) LONDON – Rafael Nadal will attempt to add the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals title to his collection when he returns to The O2 in London this November. The 27-year-old Spaniard has become the first singles player to secure his berth at the prestigious season finale after capturing the Roland Garros title for an eighth time on Sunday.

Nadal has now qualified for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals nine straight years, achieving his best finish in 2010 when he lost to Roger Federer in the final. The Spaniard was forced to miss the 2012 tournament, having been sidelined the second half of the season with a left knee injury.

Since returning to the ATP World Tour in February after a seven-month absence, Nadal has reached the final in all nine of his tournaments, winning seven titles. The stunning run has seen the Spaniard move to first place in the Emirates ATP Race To London with 7,000 points.

In addition to claiming his 12th Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, Nadal extended his ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles record to 24 with his triumphs at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Mutua Madrid Open and Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. He also claimed titles at the Brasil Open in Sao Paulo, Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco and Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, taking his career total on clay to 42.

Andre Silva, Tournament Director, said, “Rafa has had an incredible comeback since returning to action on the ATP World Tour in February and is truly deserving of becoming the first singles player to qualify for the 2013 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. His qualification is fantastic news for tennis fans in the UK and we look forward to welcoming him back to The O2 in London in November.”

The doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan have also clinched their berth at the season finale, qualifying for the 12th consecutive time. The 35-year-old Americans are three-time Barclays ATP World Tour Finals champions, winning in 2003-04 and ’09.

The Bryans will be looking to finish at No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Team Rankings for a ninth time and a fifth consecutive season. They have won seven titles in 2013, including the Australian Open and Roland Garros crowns.

The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals has welcomed more than a million fans to The O2 arena over the past four years, establishing itself as the biggest indoor tennis tournament in the world since moving to London in 2009. Tickets to the tournament, which takes place from 4-11 November, can be purchased at: www.BarclaysATPWorldTourFinals.com.

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Serbia Holds Off Bryans in Five-Set Thriller

 

 

By Junior Williams

DAVIS CUP: SERBIA HOLDS OFF BRYANS IN THRILLER

Takes 2-1 lead after Zimonjic, Bozoljac win in five-set marathon.

 

(April 6, 2013) BOISE, Idaho – Serbia Davis Cup captain Bogdan Obradovic is probably saying, “I told you so.”

 

He stuck with No. 335th ranked Ilija Bozoljac instead of replacing him with world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.

 

The payoff: Bozoljac and Nenad Zimonjic defeated top-ranked Americans Bob and Mike Bryan 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1), 5-7, 4-6, 15-13 in a thrilling 4 hour 21- minute doubles match in the Davis Cup World Group Quarterfinals at Taco Bell Arena, giving Serbia a 2-1 lead heading into Sunday’s rubbers and an opportunity for Djokovic to clinch the tie in his singles match.

 

Bozoljac’s powerful serves — many of them rockets at around 135 miles per hour — helped to neutralize the Bryans. Together, Bozoljac and Zimonjic served up 36 aces to the Americans’ twelve.

 

The 27-year old Bozoljac also came through with a number of backhand winners down the line. his play, combined with the experience of former world number one doubles player Zimonjic, came in handy for the Serbs.

 

Both teams broke each other midway through the first set, but it was Serbia that struck first by winning the tiebreak on a Zimonjic second serve ace, followed by a winner that clipped the baseline.

 

The second tiebreak also went to Serbia, helped by a minibreak due to a net cord and a strong service game resulting in three aces.

 

But the world’s No. 1 doubles team refused to give up. The Americans began their comeback by breaking Bozoljac’s serve in the final game of the third set, as Zimonjic’s block of a Mike Bryan shot sailed beyond the baseline.

 

The Bryans repeated the feat in the fourth set, as Zimonjic — who was serving this game — knocked a return from the Americans in to the net, knotting up the match at two sets apiece.

 

In the fifth set, each team managed to hold serve while escaping danger at times, until the 27th game of the set, when Bozoljac’s backhad stab return was sent wide by the Americans to give Serbia a break and a chance to serve out the match.

 

But there was more drama, as Zimonjic double faulted to give the Bryans two break points and a chance to tie the set at 14-14. That’s when Zimonjic blasted two aces to tie the game at deuce.

 

After the Bryans staved off one match point on a lob the Serbs couldn’t convert, Zimonjic served out the next two points, ending with an ace to seal the victory for Serbia. The winners hugged each other on the court as their supporters cheered wildly. Despite their disappointment, those rooting for the home team applauded the quality play of both the Serbians and the Americans.

 

Just how close was the match? Each team scored 217 points.

 

“For sure, it’s the biggest win in the Davis Cup doubles for me,” said Zimonjic. “We were playing very good.

 

“This was definitely a great, great performance and great match from me.”

 

“Anybody who was supposed to play with Nenad was supposed to be the underdog against the Bryans,” Bozoljac said. “We won and I just can’t believe it happened.

“For me, it definitely means a lot because this is my best performance in Davis Cup so far. I knew if I give my 100 percent for one match I could play on a really high level.”

 

“Have to tip our hats to those guys, obviously,” said a disappointed Bob Bryan.  “Thought they played really well all day.  36 aces, didn’t give us much opportunity, in the fifth especially.
“Just one of those things.  Obviously disappointed we let the team down.”

 

He’s a guy we haven’t seen too much of on the tour,” Mike Bryan said about journeyman Bozoljac.  “Asked a few questions of guys that have seen him play.  Gave us a few things.  But he served great all day.  He actually was a stronger returner.  There at the end he didn’t show any nerves, came up with the goods, especially on some of those 30‑All points.”

 

US Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier was asked about if Bozoljac’s is a testament to the spirit of Davis Cup “I think inspiration is pretty easy to come by when you’re playing for the colors on your back, US.  We’ve seen a lot of people in this competition rise up.  You look at the numbers next to the guy’s career, you see the performance today, something doesn’t add up.  You clearly see there was some inspiration, chemistry with Nenad on the court, and you say, Too good.”

 

It was the second consecutive Davis Cup defeat for the Bryans, who back in February lost in the World Group First Round to Brazil’s Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares. The winningest doubles team in U.S. Davis Cup history is now 20-4 when playing together.

 

Now the U.S. faces a tall task in tomorrow’s reverse singles, with Djokovic set to take on Sam Querrey in the first match. If Querrey pulls off the upset, it’ll be left to American John Isner and Serb Viktor Troicki to settle the tie.

 

Junior Williams is a long-time journalist and tennis fan. At a moment’s notice he can give you a list of all the Davis Cup match-ups that would give the US home ties. He is in Boise, Idaho covering the Davis Cup quarterfinal World Group tie between the United States and Serbia for Tennis Panorama News.

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Davis Cup: US, Serbia Deadlocked at 1-1; Djokovic, Querrey Victorious in World Group Quarterfinals

DAVIS CUP: U.S., SERBIA DEADLOCKED AT 1-1

Djokovic, Querrey victorious in World Group Quarterfinals

By Junior Williams

Sam Querrey

Sam Querrey

(April 5, 2013) BOISE, Idaho – Sam Querrey rebounded from a two sets to one deficit to defeat Viktor Troicki 7-6 (1), 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, drawing the United States even with Serbia at one match apiece in the Davis Cup World Group Quarterfinals at a loud Taco Bell Arena on the Boise State University campus.

In the first match, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic dispatched American John Isner in straight sets 7-6 (5), 6-2, 7-5.

 

Isner got off to a fast start by breaking Djokovic early in the first set, but the Greensboro, North Carolina native failed to hold on to his advantage and went on to lose the first-set tiebreak, courtesy of a Djokovic change-of-pace serve that handcuffed the number 23-ranked player in the world.

 

From then on it was all Djokovic. He did his best impersonation of a backboard, neutralizing Isner’s powerful serves with solid returns and defense. The Serb wrapped up the match in two hours.

 

On court in a post-match interview, Djokovic was asked about how he executed his game plan against Isner.

 

His response: “I executed perfectly.”

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic

 

Djokovic elaborated further in the news conference. “I guess one of the tactics — crucial points — was to get as many balls back on the return games and try to use my serve very efficiently and not give him any opportunities to atack my second serve. So I had a very high percentage of first serves in. That helped my confidence, and I could play with less pressure in his service games.”

 

Isner agreed with Djokovic that the Australian Open champion’s ability to break back in the first set was the turning point the match.

 

“I let him back in it,” said the American. “Granted, he played a good game, but I didn’t make many first serves that game. Doing that against this guy is not a good recipe.

“You want to make first serves, and I didn’t do in that one game in the first set. That was critical because I think he became a lot more comfortable at that point.”

 

Isner had seventeen aces in the match, but his first serve percentage was 54%, compared with 77% for Djokovic.

 

The Serb’s win set up another Davis Cup pressure cooker for Querrey, the top-ranked American and world No. 20. In the World Group First Round back in February, the Californian ousted Brazil’s Thiago Alves in a fifth and deciding rubber to send the U.S. into the quarterfinals.

 

Querrey and Troicki battled for 3 hours and 20 minutes in a match marked by long rallies, powerful serves and lots of unforced errors: Querrey had 82, Troicki 62.  Querrey was going for his shots, while Troicki – like Djokovic – appeared to be returning everything in sight.

crowd

The crowd erupted in the fifth set, when Querrey broke the world’s 44th-ranked player to go up 5-4, on a Troicki shot that hit the net cord but stayed on the Serbian’s side of the court. The American went on to hold serve in the next and final game.

 

Querrey said finding his groove in the fourth set was key: “I stayed positive and kept with the game plan and played aggressive. That fourth set served extremely well and was fortunate to get two breaks and that gave me a lot of momentum going into the fifth set.”

 

Troicki said he began to tire in the fourth set:

 

“I get a bit tired mentally and also physically my legs were not 100 percent and got a little bit slower. I could say fourth set I just like wasn’t there.”

 

But Troicki added both he and Querrey played well in the fifth set, and that it just came down to who seized the opportunities.

 

“I had some chances early in the fifth,” said Troicki. “I had some chances early in the fifth.  I had some break points; didn’t use them.  He used his chances when he had a break point in a crucial moment for me. So I could say I was unlucky to lose this serve and also, yeah, to lose the match.  But that’s tennis.”

 

Next up: A crucial Saturday doubles match with Americans Bob and Mike Bryan — the number one team in the world – scheduled to play Serbian doubles specialist Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac. But Novak Djokovic says he’s “still in the option” for doubles.

 

Whether Djokovic plays or not, U.S. Davis Cup captain Jim Courier says Saturday’s match is “not a must‑win.  We won’t be eliminated, nor will Serbia no matter what happens tomorrow.”

“We certainly want to win.  There is no doubt about that.  It’s an important match for both squads.  We’ll have two singles players ready to fire on Sunday.”

 

Junior Williams is a long-time journalist and tennis fan. At a moment’s notice he can give you a list of all the Davis Cup match-ups that would give the US home ties. He is in Boise, Idaho covering the Davis Cup quarterfinal World Group tie between the United States and Serbia for Tennis Panorama News.

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Isner to Face Djokovic in Opening Match of Davis Cup in Boise

davis cup poster boise efe

(April 4, 2013) No. 23 John Isner will play No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the first match Friday of the Davis Cup World Group quarterfinal between the United States and Serbia in Boise, Idaho at the Taco Bell Arena. Djokovic leads in their head-to-head record 2-1.

No. 1 American Sam Querrey, ranked No. 20, will play No. 44 Viktor Troicki in the second match. Troicki has a 2-1 record against the American.

The Saturday doubles rubber will see the top-ranked doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan against Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac.

In reverse singles on Sunday, the No.1’s Querrey and Djokovic will play the first match followed by Isner and Troicki.

Both teams met on Thursday for a news conference after the draw was made to the weekend.

Djokovic was asked about playing in high altitudes such as Boise which is 2,842 feet above sea level. “I played in high altitude before in my life, but not matches. I think in the tour we have Madrid that’s maybe 600, 700 meters, but this is the highest that I’m going to play ever in my life,” Djokovic said.

“And it makes a difference, you know. It makes a difference. You have to put I think an extra effort in the adjustment on the court. You have to try to serve well. It’s tough to control.

“You can’t expect maybe too many long points because the ball travels through the air much faster than in normal conditions.”

The altitude is sure to help the big-serving Americans.

“Well, I can’t serve bigger than John (Isner),” Djokovic said, “so I will try to concentrate on the efficiency of my serve and the second shot also, and of course try to get as many returns back in the court as I can. He relies on his serve. That’s his biggest weapon.”

“I have to play very well, Isner said of playing Djokovic first on Friday. “ If I don’t, chances are it may not turn out so good for me. He’s the No. 1 player in the world.

“Everyone has to play well if they want to have a chance to beat him. Simple as that. Got to go out there and look to play well and aggressively.”

“It’s important. You want to go out there, and just as Novak does, I want to put our team, our country, up 1-0. In these Davis Cup ties, there are five possible points, so every point is so critical.

“I’m not placing any extra importance on the first one. It would be nice to have for sure.

“Just as every point would be. So I’m not treating it any differently. I know I want to go out there and put our team up 1-0. That’s what Novak wants to do as well.

“Our guys are feeling good and have been practicing well,” said US Davis Captain Jim Courier. “Going up a team as accomplished as the Serbs is a big challenge and we look forward to that challenge.

“We’re going to have to play our best tennis, no holds bar, to get through this weekend from the first ball to the last ball.”

The Serbian team leads the US 1-0 in Davis Cup ties, defeating the US back in 2010 in Belgrade in the first round on the way to their first Davis Cup title.

Tennis Channel will air live daily coverage. Friday’s singles matches will air live at 3:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. MT, Saturday’s doubles match will air at 3:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. MT, and Sunday’s singles matches will air live at 2:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. MT.

Schedule

Friday, 1:00 p.m.

Singles A: John Isner (USA) vs. Novak Djokovic (SRB)

Singles B: Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Viktor Troicki (SRB)

Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

Doubles: Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) vs. Ilija Bozoljac/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)

Sunday, 11:30 a.m.

Singles C: Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Novak Djokovic (SRB)

Singles D: John Isner (USA) vs. Viktor Troicki (SRB)

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US Plays Host to Serbia in Davis Cup Quarterfinal This Weekend

QuerreyIsnerDavisCup2010lo_res

Sam Querrey and John Isner

(April 2, 2013) The United States hosts world No. 1 Novak Djokovic this weekend as they take on Serbia in the quarterfinal round of Davis Cup in Boise, Idaho on an indoor hard court at the Taco Bell Arena on the Boise State University campus.

 

The US team will consist of Sam Querrey, John Isner, Bob and Mike Bryan. In addition to Djokovic, Serbia sends Viktor Troicki, Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac.

 

This will be the second time that the US has played Serbia in Davis Cup competition. Serbia topped the US  3-2 in the 2010 first round in Belgrade.

 

“I think we like our chances,“ Querrey said at a a pre-draw news conference on Tuesday. “I think if we play aggressive and play well, we can win this tie.

 

“Sam and I are going to both lay it all out there and see how it goes,” Isner said.
“I think we’re certainly not scared.  We’re going to take the court believing we can win.  I think that’s the most important part more than anything else.  If you take the court with that belief, it could go a long way.”

 

Djokovic said the the tie is not all about him. “Team effort is a priority here, ” he said.  “Even if I win my both matches, it’s not going to be enough to win the tie.  So we need to win the 3 points.
“That’s what we came here for.  We are very glad to be in quarterfinals again.  Of course, USA is the most successful nation in this competition.  They have a lot of good players.  As you mentioned, Sam and John are the leaders of this team.  And, of course, Bryan brothers which are the all‑time best doubles pair.
“They are very strong.  They have chosen these conditions because they believe it’s going to go in their favor.  They have a strong serve.  With this altitude, it helps the serve more.
“But we played in these conditions before.  I played Sam and John, you know, in previous years few times.  I know their styles of the game.  This competition is very unique because you get to rely on the home support.  So it’s going to be quite different.  Obviously we going to have an extra motivation to play and win for our country.”

 

The winner of this tie will face either Canada or Italy in the World Group semifinals. Should the US beat Serbia, it will host Canada or travel to Italy. Although the US hosted the last tie against Canada in 1965, choice of ground was decided by lot if the previous meeting between the two nations was prior to 1970.

 

Schedule

All times Mountain Time

Friday, April 5, 2013 1:30 p.m.

Singles A: U.S. No. 1 vs. SRB No. 2 (or SRB No. 1 vs. U.S. No. 2)

Singles B: Opposite pairing of Singles A

 

Saturday, April 6, 2013 1:00 p.m.

Doubles

 

Sunday, April 7, 2013 12:00 p.m.

Singles C: U.S. No. 1 vs. SRB No. 1

Singles D: U.S. No. 2 vs. SRB No. 2

 

In the United States, the tie will air live on Tennis Channel.

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Bryan Brothers Keep US Hopes Alive in Davis Cup Doubles Win

Team USA is still alive in the Davis Cup World Group semifinal – but just barely.

Bob and Mike Bryan kept the US hopes alive holding back Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez to win the doubles rubber on Saturday 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 to close the gap to 2-1 versus Spain, in Gijon.

Spain aiming for their fourth final in five years won both singles rubber on Friday thanks to wins from David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro.

During the match, Granollers had a calf injury and his movement was hampered.

“We stayed the course the whole way and three hours 40 minutes was maybe one of the longest Davis Cup matches we ever played,” the Bryan Brothers told Spanish television.

“We’re happy to get the team to Sunday and I have all the faith in John and Sam to play some good tennis tomorrow and we’ll see what happens.”

Mike Bryan has now played in 24 Davis Cup doubles matches, tying John Van Ryn for first all-time in most doubles matches played in US Davis Cup history, overall  Mike Bryan is 22-2 in Davis Cup competition. He also is tied with Van Ryn for the most individual doubles wins with 22.

On Sunday David Ferrer hopes to close out the tie for Spain with a win over American John Isner in reverse singles. Almagro is scheduled to play Sam Querrey in the second match.

 

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Notes and Quotes From The US Davis Cup Team News Conference

The draw for this weekend’s Davis Cup World Group Semifinal between the United States and Spain was held on Thursday in Gijon, Spain. Here are some quotes from the United States team’s news conference:

 


U.S. DAVIS CUP CAPTAIN JIM COURIER

On playing in Gijon and facing a tough Spanish team…

 

The stadium is very well done; the facilities are wonderful for us. We have had a very good practice week. I think the hometown, Spain, is the favorite. They are a fantastic team; they could make three or four Davis cup teams that would be very good, considering how many players they have. But we are here to play, we are here to compete and we will take our chances here this weekend.

 

We are expecting a very difficult battle. That is what all these matches, whether is it home or away, are about, it is about getting ready, getting set and letting fire.

 

JOHN ISNER

 

On facing Spain in their home country…

 

Our team has played in some tough environments before and we expect a tough environment tomorrow, but at the same time we know it is going to be a lot of fun. I am just going to go out there and try to enjoy it. It is going to be a good challenge and it is going to be in front of a big crowd. I don’t think it is going to be anything I’m not used to.

 

They have two guys who are top ten in the world playing this tie. The team is so deep.

 

SAM QUERREY


On playing for the U.S. in Davis Cup for the first time since 2010…

 

It is really exciting to be back on the team. It has been a few years since I played back in 2010. I was out last year with elbow surgery but I have come back and I feel like I am playing really well. I am excited to be part of this team and I am really looking forward to it. The handful of Davis Cup teams I have played in the past have been really fun, it is exciting to play on a team every now and then.

 

On opening up the tie tomorrow in the first singles rubber…

 

I didn’t really have a preference playing first or second. Either way David Ferrer is a tough player, it is going to be a tough match.

 

 

BOB BRYAN


On facing Granollers and Lopez in the doubles rubber…

 

I am definitely expecting those two guys [Granollers and Lopez] to out there. They are one of the best teams in the world. They have won a Masters on clay, they have played us tough, a couple times. They had match point against us in Toronto. There is going to be no surprises, we know we have our hands full. We are practicing hard, we feel good, riding some confidence from a good summer, as are they. It is whoever plays better and executes on the day is going to win.

 

MIKE BRYAN

On facing Spain in doubles and playing away ties…

 

We have a pretty good record on the road.  We treat all these road ties as Grand Slam finals. We played every road tie on clay and we are pretty comfortable on clay. We have good game plans coming in playing a lot of clay court players and we are playing another really good clay court team. This could be our toughest away tie match, as it is against a top five team in the world.

 

As Bob said, we are going to have to execute, we will treat it just like we did the US Open final a week ago. Davis Cup matches are huge for us.

 

Weekend Schedule

Friday, 12 p.m.
Singles A:              Sam Querrey (USA) vs. David Ferrer (ESP)
Singles B:              John Isner (USA) vs. Nicolas Almagro (ESP)

Saturday, 2 p.m.
Doubles:                Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) vs. Marcel Granollers/Marc Lopez (ESP)*

Sunday, 12 p.m.
Singles C:             John Isner (USA) vs. David Ferrer (ESP)
Singles D:             Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Nicolas Almagro (ESP)

Matches will be streamed for free live on USTA.com. Matches will also be televised live on Tennis Channel with Friday’s singles matches airing at 6 a.m. ET, Saturday’s doubles match airing at 8 a.m., and Sunday’s singles matches airing at 6 a.m.

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Bryan Brothers Capture Fourth US Open Title, 12th Major

FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY -  Avenging their loss in the Australian Open finals, No. 2 seeds Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan took out No. 5 seeds and Australian Open champions Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-4 to win the US Open doubles final on Friday.

The victory gives the Bryans the most majors in the Open Era for a Men’s Doubles team at 12. They have surpassed Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde and are now tied John Newcombe and Tony Roche for the all-time record.

“When you’re in the heat of the moment you don’t want to think about that stuff. We’re just trying to win the Grand Slam,, said Mike Bryan. “And now that we could chill a little bit, it’s fun to have it. We looked up to the Woodies, and to steal all their records is unbelievable, because we idolize those guys. They’re one of the reasons we play doubles. Just to be mentioned with those guys is pretty special. But to have a huge record like the Grand Slam record is really cool.”

Bob Bryan said: “We weren’t thinking too much about revenge today. We were just thinking about playing a good match and executing the scouting report our coach gave us and winning our home slam in front of all these fans that were pumping us up the whole day.”

The win also equals Robert Lutz and Stan Smith’s Open Era record with four US Open team titles. The Bryans also took home US Open trophies in 2005, 2008 and 2010.

 

An interview with: BOB AND MIKE BRYAN

Friday, September 7, 2012

THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.

 

Q.  3‑2 on them this year; loss in Australian Open was disappointing.  Does this make up for it?

BOB BRYAN:  I mean, we weren’t thinking too much about revenge today.  We were just thinking about playing a good match and executing the scouting report our coach gave us and winning our home slam in front of all these fans that were pumping us up the whole day.  I mean, we’re extremely pumped to leave 2012 with a Grand Slam title.  I think it’s eight years in a row now we’ve at least got away with one of them, which we’re very proud of.

 

Q.  Olympic gold medal, Grand Slam, Davis Cup…

BOB BRYAN:  Dream summer?

MIKE BRYAN:  Yeah.  Got to finish it off strong with Davis Cup.  You’re only as good as your last match.  So we’re leaving tomorrow night, going to get our clay court shoes on, and hopefully help the U.S. out.

BOB BRYAN:  After that match we can exhale a little bit.

 

Q.  How much attention do you give to the records and how important is it to you to hold almost every record now?

MIKE BRYAN:  Yeah, I mean when we’re done playing I think they’re going to be fun to have.  When you’re in the heat of the moment you don’t want to think about that stuff.  We’re just trying to win the Grand Slam, you know.  And now that we could chill a little bit, it’s fun to have it.  You know, we looked up to the Woodies, and to steal all their records is unbelievable, because we idolize those guys.  They’re one of the reasons we play doubles.  Just to be mentioned with those guys is pretty special.  But to have a huge record like the Grand Slam record is really cool.

 

Q.  After the match did you throw your gold medal into the crowd?

BOB BRYAN:  Yeah.  That was my buddy from Miami.  He has good hands.

MIKE BRYAN:  Was that Sean?

BOB BRYAN:  Yeah.  If he wasn’t an athlete, I wouldn’t have thrown it to him, but he’s a coordinated guy.

 

Q.  He’s going to give it back, though?

BOB BRYAN:  Do you want to catch it?

 

Q.  What’s a realistic number for you considering your age, how you feel, how much longer you say you’re going to play?  What’s a realistic number of slams you think you can actually achieve?

MIKE BRYAN:  I don’t know.  It’s hard to say, but we want to play until Rio.  Hopefully we can snag a couple a year, one or two.  We got one this year.  You do the math.  (Laughter.)

 

Q.  I know you had the medal with you in Cincy; you have it here.  Do you take it with you everywhere?

BOB BRYAN:  Pretty much.

 

Q.  A good luck charm?

BOB BRYAN:  Yeah, I actually let Sergio Garcia wear it in Cincinnati.  Then he went win, third, and he made 1.5 million in two weeks.  So I think it’s good luck.  You want to catch it?  Can you move forward a couple of rows.

 

Q.  I assume it’s not particularly fragile.

BOB BRYAN:  It’s heavy.

MIKE BRYAN:  You got good hands?

 

Q.  He’s a Brit.

BOB BRYAN:  He’s a Brit?

MIKE BRYAN:  Pass it around.  You can get a picture.

BOB BRYAN:  It’s going to be going home tomorrow, the gold.

 

Q.  How do you retain your freshness?  You never seem to change as the years go by.  I think if I took a picture of you guys five years ago, six years ago, and you probably look exactly the same as you do now.  How do you retain that freshness?

MIKE BRYAN:  Ask Doug right here.  He’s got the fresh face.  He’s like 50 and he looks 30.  (Laughter.)  We put on sunscreen.

BOB BRYAN:  We’re playing a sport that we have a lot of fun, you know, doing.  Our parents instilled that love in the game early, and we still haven’t lost it.  I think that’s the biggest goal for parents, should have, is making it fun for their kids.  Not just drilling them into the ground, but making it fun.  We were playing games, going to tournaments with our friends, having pizza, and just fell in love with the game.  Had idols, and, you know, right now we still like getting up and going to war and having moments like this.  This is what you play for, right here, working hard.  You know, we had a rough 12 months.  We took a lot of lumps, but now that’s all forgotten.  It’s sweeter than ever.

 

Q.  Talk about the Olympics being such a big goal this year.  How strange would it have been to end the year without a Grand Slam in 2012?

MIKE BRYAN:  Still would have been a good year because we have the Olympics.  But as Bob said, we wanted to keep the streak alive of eight years with a slam.  It would obviously have been disappointing, but, you know, we’re always trying to finish the year No. 1.  We have a pretty good lead now.  You just take a look at the positives, you know, the Olympics and trying to finish the year No. 1.

 

Q.  What are your observations of the other great siblings in sports, the Williams sisters, the Mannings, and what common denominators other than genes do you see in those alliances?

BOB BRYAN:  The common denominator is you’re able to hit with the No. 1 player in the world every day of the year.  You don’t have to go search for a practice partner.  I think parents have the formula, and they figure out an environment that breeds success.  Why wouldn’t the other sibling be successful in that same environment?  We had an environment in Camarillo, California, a beautiful club with a hundred juniors playing tennis and coming to play four hours a day.  We had parents that didn’t come down on hard for us for wins and losses, but just kind of instilled good sportsmanship and making sure we were having fun.  They were taking us to exhibitions, Indian Wells, Great Western Forum, to make sure we saw that level and we had dreams.

 

Q.  We have seen some huge chases for Grand Slam records with Sampras and Federer.  What is it like for you guys?

MIKE BRYAN:  You know, it doesn’t get the notoriety that, you know, a Federer record does.  We have fun slipping under the radar.  Probably get asked once or twice a week ‑ by Doug ‑ but that’s about it.  This isn’t our first time sitting in this room in front of a bunch of media.  But they’re special to us and we talk about them with our camp.  My dad definitely he shoots e‑mails to us with all our records and they’re fun to look at.  Then it’s up to you guys to, you know, determine where we stand in history or whatever.  You know, that’s what we play for.  We set goals every year.  This was just another goal that we went after.  It’s fun to achieve it.

 

Q.  Do you recall your first major?

MIKE BRYAN:  Yeah.

BOB BRYAN:  Yeah, we definitely recall it.  The first major we played?

 

Q.  First major you won.

BOB BRYAN:  2003 French Open, and that was sweet.  We went to Buddha Bar and partied.

 

Q.  What did you do to work your way up to that?

BOB BRYAN:  I mean, that one just kind of came, bang.  We hadn’t been in a Grand Slam final.  Been in a couple of semis.  We just played the tournament of our life; didn’t lose a set.  One set went past four the whole week.  It just happened so fast.  And then it took us a while.  Once we won the first one it took us two over two years to win the next one.  We lost in five Grand Slam finals after that match and took a lot of lumps.  Then, yeah, then started figuring it out.

 

Q.  Who among the great sibling duos in sports in recent years have been especially inspiring to you, and what have you taken from their examples?

BOB BRYAN:  I mean, Venus and Serena are a pretty inspirational sibling pair.  They’re always positive with each other.  They love each other to death.  They’re always supporting each other watching the matches and the crowd.  You’ve never seen them have a spat.  You know, we’re a little more violent with each other behind closed doors than those two, so we try to use them as an example.  (Laughter.)

 

Q.  You guys said before the tournament or coming in that this was gravy after the Olympics.  Were you able to play that way?  Did you feel from the beginning to the end that that helped, you know, lubricate your nerves?

MIKE BRYAN:  It did take pressure off.  Yeah, we talked about it before each match.  We’re like, Let’s swing free.  We have the gold.  But, you know, we came into this probably a little fatigued and just running on adrenaline from the Olympics.  We could see the finish line.  You know, this final match, that’s what we pushed toward, and, you know, we have played a lot of tennis from the Olympics.  Yeah, that definitely lubricated the nerves.  Nice word.

 

Q.  You have broken all the records and got the Olympic medal now.  What kind of goals do you have now?  Is there something missing, or just adding to the pot?

BOB BRYAN:  Short‑term goal is still win that Davis Cup match, because that’s going to be pivotal to that tie.  I don’t think our team has a great chance if we don’t win that doubles match.  We want to do our job there and then just try to pile on some more points and finish the year No. 1.  It would be our eighth No. 1 finish.  Then Mike’s going to get married.  See how that goes.

MIKE BRYAN:  Work on your speech.

 

Q.  Sounded like a question.

BOB BRYAN:  Start it again.

MIKE BRYAN:  It’s gonna happen.

BOB BRYAN:  Start it again.

 

Q.  You have given so much to the game, not only in doubles but the sport itself.  The passion that you have, the energy, your father’s made you tough; you’re a tough competitor.  Is there ever a time behind the scenes in private the two of you actually just have to break down and share a tear of emotion for what you all have accomplished?

MIKE BRYAN:  We’re not very sentimental emotional guys.  I haven’t cried for a while, since high school.  But I thought I was gonna cry on the medals stand.

BOB BRYAN:  It didn’t happen.

MIKE BRYAN:  It didn’t happen.  I’m just unemotional.  Ask my fiancée.

 

Q.  Do you take a pill for that or something?

BOB BRYAN:  Zero emotions.

MIKE BRYAN:  It will be fun to, you know, just share these memories.

BOB BRYAN:  We talk about stuff together.  We don’t really talk about it with other people.  We share it with my parents.  My dad gets a real kick out of the records.  He has a spreadsheet on his computer.  I’m sure he’s updating it right now.

MIKE BRYAN:  Here comes the star.

BOB BRYAN:  Bring her up here.

 

Q.  Your dad’s been a little bit controversial this year with some of the things he said earlier on in the year.  The USTA of course, Patrick has worked very closely with you in Davis Cup terms on the other side.  Are you sometimes trapped between the association and your father?

MIKE BRYAN:  Yeah, we stay out of it.  I mean, we have a big loyalty to both guys.  We love Pat and we love obviously my dad.  My dad is very passionate about the way he feels because he owned a club and did a tremendous job with his junior program for so many years.  But, you know, Pat has his views.  I’m sure they’re both great.  We definitely read the blogs and the e‑mails and get a kick out of it.

(Micaela joined the dais.)

MIKE BRYAN:  Watch this.  Peekaboo.

 

Q.  Can I just ask, I mean, this tournament seems to have turned into a tournament of players going under the pension line, Mark Knowles being the latest one.  Just comment on Mark’s career.  You guys came up against him so many times.

BOB BRYAN:  I mean, Mark’s a legend.  He’s one of the best players of all time.  I think Knowles‑Nestor have got to be in the top five greatest doubles teams to play.  Incredible backhand return in the deuce court and scary hands.  His drop volley would always catch you by surprise.  He’s a great guy.  I think he’ll have a successful career coaching.  He’s knowledgeable and, you know, if he wants to be a commentator commentating or whatever…

 

Q.  Not too long ago you and your dad, Wayne, a few guys really fought hard to keep this doubles on the tour.  And not only kept it on the tour, but you brought it fairly close to the main light of activity.  What’s that mean to you all when you look beyond just playing the game, that you made this contribution to the game with your dad?

MIKE BRYAN:  Yeah, I mean, we’re very happy with the way it’s gone.  Obviously doubles was threatened seven years ago, and we rallied behind ‑‑ along with my dad and all the doubles guys ‑‑ and pushed to have doubles be a big part of the game.  You know, playing matches like this in a packed stadium, you know, it just shows how far doubles has come.  There’s more and more stadium matches.  It still is an integral part of the game, which is great.  And we always want it to be.  When we’re done playing we still want doubles to be, you know, big.  It’s never going to catch singles, but it will be right there.

 

Q.  Do you feel more confident with Davis Cup after that match?

MIKE BRYAN:  Do we feel confident?

 

Q.  With Davis Cup after that match.

MIKE BRYAN:  Yeah, obviously when you win a string of matches your confidence grows.  It’s going to be a different surface, and we’re going to have to go to work to beat two very good clay‑court doubles players.  We’re leaving tomorrow night.  We’re going to get there a week early and we will have some good time to get ready.  But, yeah, we’re pretty happy with the way we’re playing right now.

 

Q.  What happens in your life if one of you is born in Camarillo and at the same time another is born in Ventura and you’re actually not twins?  Would you still have careers in tennis, do you think?

BOB BRYAN:  Who’s our parents?  Wayne and Kathy Bryan in Camarillo, or are they in Miami?  If you’re my dad I’m probably sweeping streets somewhere.  Just kidding, Bill.  (Laughter.)

MIKE BRYAN:  We would have found each other.

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US Davis Cup Team Named to Battle Defending Champion Spain

The USTA and U.S. Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier announced on Tuesday that world No. 10 John Isner, No. 28 Sam Querrey, and 2012 Olympic doubles gold medalists Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan will represent the United States in the 2012 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Semifinal tie against Spain, September 14-16.  The tie will be played on an outdoor red clay court at the Parque Hermanos Castro in Gijon, Spain.

Spain, the defending Davis Cup champion, announced their roster of No.5 David Ferrer, No. 12 Nicolas Almagro, No. 24 Marcel Granollers, and Top 10 doubles player Marc Lopez earlier today. Spain has won the Davis Cup title three out of the last four years (2008, 2009 and 2011).

“Our team is battle-tested after two tough road wins this year against Switzerland and France,” said second-year U.S. Davis Cup Captain Courier, who has a 3-0 record on the road. “Playing against Spain on clay is the ultimate test in Davis Cup and we look forward to the challenge in Gijon.”

“It’s the ultimate ask,” Courier told media.

“We have had the toughest draw you can have in Davis Cup with the road matches we have faced, and this one is the ultimate ask in current Davis Cup tennis. Going into Spain, playing them on red clay, they haven’t lost in a long, long time. We certainly feel like we’re going to have a chance, but we also feel like we’re not the favorites. We felt that way in the first two matches this year, too.”

Courier also announced that two-time NCAA singles champion Steve Johnson, former US Open boys’ singles finalist Denis Kudla and 2011 NCAA doubles champion Austin Krajicek will be practice partners for the team.  All three have served as practice partners before.

Matches will be telecast live on Tennis Channel starting at 6 a.m. ET on Friday, 8 a.m. ET on Saturday, and 6 a.m. ET on Sunday.  USTA.com will also feature live streaming of all Davis Cup matches in the United States for free.

The opening day of play in the best-of-five match series features each country’s No. 1 singles player against the No. 2 player from the opposing country.  The pivotal doubles match is played Saturday, followed by Sunday’s “reverse singles,” starting with each country’s No. 1 players squaring off followed by the No. 2 players in the fifth and final match.

This semifinal tie will mark the 11th matchup overall between the U.S. and Spain in Davis Cup competition.  The countries are tied in their series with five wins each with the last meeting taking place in the 2011 World Group Quarterfinal in Austin, Texas (Spain won that tie, 3-1). The Spaniards last defeated the U.S. in Spain in the 2008 World Group Semifinal on clay, where Spain later went on to win the Davis Cup title that year.

The winner of this match will face the winner of the semifinal between the Czech Republic and Argentina. If the U.S. wins, it will either travel to Argentina or host the Czech Republic in the final, November 16-18.

Isner, 27, will be competing in his sixth Davis Cup tie and is 5-3 in singles and 2-0 in doubles.  Isner defeated Roger Federer in the U.S. Davis Cup team’s first round win at Switzerland in February, one of the biggest wins of his career, and won his sixth career ATP singles title this year at the Winston-Salem Open, an Emirates Airline US Open Series event. The tallest player in U.S. Davis Cup history at 6-foot-9, Isner made his Davis Cup debut in the 2010 World Group First Round in Serbia where he became the first U.S. player to compete in three live rubbers in the same tie since James Blake in the 2003 first round.   He turned professional after an outstanding four-year career at the University of Georgia, leading the Bulldogs to the 2007 NCAA team title as a senior. Isner is currently No. 10 in the world and is coming off a third round appearance at the US Open.

Querrey, 24, will be competing on the U.S. Davis Cup team for the first time since the 2010 World Group Playoff in Colombia and holds a 1-4 Davis Cup singles record in three ties. Querrey made his Davis Cup debut against Rafael Nadal on clay in Madrid in the 2008 World Group Semifinal, losing in four sets. He peaked at No. 17 in the world in January 2011, but was forced to undergo right elbow surgery in June last year that sidelined him for three months. This year, Querrey climbed back up the rankings after winning his seventh career ATP title at the Emirates Airline US Open Series event in Los Angeles and reaching three ATP semifinals. Like Isner, Querrey reached the third round of the 2012 US Open.

Bob Bryan, 34, holds a 20-2 doubles record in Davis Cup and a 19-2 record with twin brother, Mike. He is also 4-2 in singles (all dead rubbers). Bob did not compete in February’s first round match at Switzerland due to the birth of his daughter. In 2009, the Bryans’ win in the Davis Cup first round versus Switzerland put them first all-time in U.S. Davis Cup history with 15 doubles wins as a team and they are the only brothers to pair in victory for the U.S. In 2010, Bob and Mike broke the all-time Open era record of 62 team doubles titles after winning the Emirates Airline US Open Series event in Los Angeles and have since extended their record to 80 doubles titles. The Bryan brothers won the gold medal in doubles at the 2012 Olympics in London, where they completed a career Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal. Bob and Mike are currently in the quarterfinals of the US Open, of which they are three-time champions.

Mike Bryan, 34, played without twin brother Bob for just the second time in his Davis Cup career during the 2012 World Group First Round, where he teamed with Mardy Fish to defeat 2008 Olympic doubles gold medalists Federer and Wawrinka to clinch the tie for the U.S.  Mike holds a 21-2 record in Davis Cup doubles matches and is 19-2 with Bob (Mike partnered with Fish in the 2008 semifinal against Spain).  He played in 19 consecutive doubles matches for the U.S. Davis Cup team since he and Bob joined the team in September 2003 until suffering from food poisoning before the 2010 World Group First Round in Serbia (Isner replaced Mike and teamed with Bob).  The Bryan brothers currently share the No. 3 doubles ranking and finished six of the past seven years as the top-ranked doubles team in the world.  They have qualified for the year-end Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London. Mike owns 82 career tour-level doubles titles.

Founded in 1900, Davis Cup is the world’s largest annual international men’s team competition with 125 nations competing this year.  The U.S. leads all nations with 32 Davis Cup titles.

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USTA names US Olympic Tennis Teams

From the United States Tennis Association: The USTA announced on Tuesday the 12 players nominated to the U.S. Olympic Tennis Teams for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, July 28 – August 5.

U.S. women’s tennis coach Mary Joe Fernandez nominated a six-person team with four singles entries and two doubles teams.  13-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams will compete in the singles competition along with Christina McHale, Varvara Lepchenko and three-time Olympic gold medalist Venus Williams, who will be competing in her fourth Olympics. The world’s No. 1 doubles team of Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond will compete for the U.S. in doubles, as will the Williams sisters, who are undefeated in Olympic doubles competition and will be seeking their third gold medal together (2000, 2008).

U.S. men’s tennis coach Jay Berger also nominated a six-player team consisting of four singles entries and two doubles teams.  2004 Olympian Andy Roddick was named to the team along with John Isner, Ryan Harrison and Donald Young in singles.  The 2008 bronze medalists in men’s doubles, Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, will return to the Olympics as a U.S. men’s doubles team, with Isner and Roddick making up a second doubles team.

The U.S. will also nominate two teams in mixed doubles – which will be contested at the Olympics Games for the first time since tennis returned to the Games in 1988 – comprised from among the 12 players and named once all players are on site.

The 2012 Olympic tennis competition will be staged July 28 – August 5 on the grass courts of the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon.  The U.S. has won 17 Olympic medals in men’s and women’s tennis since it returned as a full medal sport in 1988 – more than any other nation.

“These 12 players have worked extremely hard to earn selection to the U.S. Olympic Team, and they will be granted the tremendous honor of playing for their country on the world’s biggest stage,” said Jon Vegosen, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA.  “That the competition is being held on perhaps tennis’ most hallowed grounds, these Olympics will surely augment a memorable summer of tennis.”

“We have a very experienced team replete with gold medalists and a doubles team that is currently the best in the world,” said Fernandez, who has led the U.S. Fed Cup Team to the Fed Cup final in two of her three years as Captain.  “I am honored to have the opportunity to coach this team at the Olympics and firmly believe that we have a team capable of competing for multiple medals.”

“Our guys are honored to be representing their country, and are relishing the opportunity to compete for gold at Wimbledon,” said Berger, who has been the USTA Player Development Head of Men’s Tennis since 2008.  “I am confident that we will be in medal contention in both singles and doubles.”

Serena Williams, 30, is undefeated and a two-time gold medalist in doubles (2000 and 2008), and a quarterfinalist in her only Olympic singles appearance in 2008. She is a 13-time Grand Slam singles champion, including four Wimbledon singles titles and has captured 12 Grand Slam doubles titles (four at Wimbledon) and two mixed doubles titles. She is one of six women in history to have held the No. 1 rankings in both singles and doubles simultaneously.  Williams is a perfect 11-0 in Fed Cup play, including 8-0 in singles, and she helped the U.S. capture the 1999 Fed Cup title.

Venus Williams, 32, is the most decorated Olympic tennis player in U.S. history with three gold medals, and will become the first American tennis player to compete in four Olympic Games. She captured the gold medal in singles in 2000 and won gold medals in doubles with her sister Serena in 2000 and 2008.  She is a seven-time Grand Slam champion, including five Wimbledon titles, and has won 12 Grand Slam doubles titles (four at Wimbledon) and two mixed doubles titles.  Williams is 18-4 in Fed Cup competitions, including a 14-2 singles record, and she helped lead the U.S. to the 1999 title.

Christina McHale, 20, will make her Olympic debut in London.  She captured the bronze medal in singles and silver medal in doubles at the 2011 Pan American Games, and has reached the third round of the last three Grand Slam events to help her crack the WTA Top 30 for the first time.  She is 4-3 in singles in Fed Cup play, with all four wins coming in 2012.

Varvara Lepchenko, 26, will make her Olympic debut and represent the U.S. for the first time since becoming an official citizen in September 2011.  She is a native of Uzbekistan who received political asylum from the U.S. in 2001, and changed her nationality to officially represent the U.S. in 2007.  Lepchenko was one of just two Americans to reach the fourth round at the 2012 French Open.

Liezel Huber, 35, will make her second Olympic appearance for the U.S. after competing in doubles in 2008.  She also competed for South Africa at the 2000 games in Sydney.  She is currently the world’s top-ranked doubles player along with partner Lisa Raymond, and has captured five Grand Slam women’s doubles titles (two at Wimbledon) and two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.  Huber has an 8-2 doubles record for the U.S. in Fed Cup play (17-4 career with U.S. and South Africa), and helped lead the U.S. to the consecutive Fed Cup finals in 2009-10.

Lisa Raymond, 38, will make her second Olympic appearance after reaching the third round in singles and the quarterfinals in doubles in 2004.  Currently the world’s top-ranked doubles player along with partner Liezel Huber (Raymond became the oldest woman to ever achieve the No. 1 ranking in either singles or doubles.).  Raymond has captured six Grand Slam women’s doubles titles, including Wimbledon in 2001, and four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.  She has an 11-3 Fed Cup doubles record (14-9 overall), and helped lead the U.S. to 2000 Fed Cup title.

John Isner, 27, will make his Olympic debut at the site where he competed in the longest match in tennis history, defeating Nicolas Mahut 70-68 in the fifth set of their 2010 first round match that spanned 11 hours and five minutes over three days.  He has recorded victories over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and world No. 3 Roger Federer thus far in 2012, and recently cracked the ATP World Tour Top 10 for the first time.  Isner is 7-3 in Davis Cup play, including a 4-0 mark in 2012 to help lead the U.S. to the semifinals in September.

Andy Roddick, 29, will make his second Olympic appearance after reaching the singles quarterfinals in 2004.  Roddick captured the 2003 US Open and is a three-time finalist at Wimbledon, including 2009, when he lost to Roger Federer 16-14 in the longest fifth set in Wimbledon final history.  He has also captured four titles at the Wimbledon tune-up at Queens Club, and last week he captured his first title at the grass court event in Eastbourne.  Roddick owns 33 Davis Cup singles victories, second-most all-time in U.S. Davis Cup history, and helped lead the U.S. to the 2007 title.

Ryan Harrison, 20, will make his Olympic debut in London, after breaking into the ATP World Tour Top 50 for the first time this week.  In 2008, Harrison became the third-youngest player since 1990 to win a main draw match on the ATP World Tour, and he reached the quarterfinals on grass in Nottingham in 2010.  Harrison made his U.S. Davis Cup debut in the 2012 World Group first round against Switzerland.

Donald Young, 22, will make his Olympic debut in London.  He reached his first career ATP World Tour final in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2011, and reached a career-high No. 38 in February 2012.  Young became the youngest player to end a year ranked No. 1 in the ITF World Junior Rankings in 2005 at age 16, and captured the boys’ singles title at Wimbledon in 2007.

Bob Bryan, 34, will make his third consecutive Olympic appearance.  He captured the bronze medal in men’s doubles in 2008 with twin brother Mike.  Together, they own 11 Grand Slam men’s doubles titles (two at Wimbledon), and Bob has won seven mixed doubles titles. The Bryans own a record 78 ATP World Tour doubles titles together, and have finished as the world’s No. 1 doubles team in seven of the last nine years.  Bob and Mike are each 20-2 in Davis Cup doubles play, including 19-2 record together, which ranks first all-time in Davis Cup history.  They helped lead the U.S. to the 2007 Davis Cup title.

Mike Bryan, 34, will make his third consecutive Olympic appearance. He captured the bronze medal in men’s doubles in 2008 with twin brother Bob.  In addition to the 11 Grand Slam men’s doubles titles he won with his brother, Mike has also won two mixed doubles titles.  Mike owns 80 ATP World Tour doubles titles (two more than Bob, having posted a 14-2 record in 2002 with four different partners other than Bob).

Venus and Serena Williams are the last American women to win Olympic gold in tennis, having captured the 2008 gold medal in women’s doubles.

Andre Agassi was the last American man to win Olympic gold in men’s singles when he defeated Spain’s Sergi Bruguera in the gold medal match at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Ken Flach and Robert Seguso are the last American team to win Olympic gold in men’s doubles when they defeated Spain’s Sergio Casal and Emilio Sanchez in the gold medal match at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

Tennis was part of the Olympic program from the first modern Olympiad in 1896 until 1924.  After a 64-year hiatus, tennis returned to the official Olympic program in 1988, becoming the first sport to feature professional athletes.

Team nominations were made by the USTA’s Olympic Oversight Committee and are subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Tennis Federation.

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