With their triumph last week in Monte-Carlo, Bob and Mike Bryan have now won consecutive Masters 1000 titles and have reached the final in three straight.
That’s nothing new for them, of course. But by their more recent standards, it is nothing less than incredible resurgence.
Prior to their victory in Miami, the Bryan brothers had not lifted a Masters 1000 trophy since Rome in the spring of 2016. They had not gone back-to-back at that level since accomplishing the same Miami-Monte-Carlo feat in 2015. And they had not advanced to finals of three Masters 1000s in a row since winning Cincinnati, Shanghai, and Paris in 2014.
It’s safe to say the Bryans are slumping no more. They are back.
Their 2018 hot streak also includes a semifinal showing at the Australian Open and runner-up performances in Indian Wells and Acapulco. They are now the third-ranked doubles team in the world after slipping to eighth at one point last season and they are second in the race to London, trailing only Australian Open champions Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic. The Bryan brothers just beat none other than Marach and Pavic 7-6(5), 6-3 in last Sunday’s Monte-Carlo championship match.
“Congratulations on a great tournament to the Bryans,” Pavic told the 39-year-old twins during the trophy ceremony. “I don’t know how you keep winning.”
“Great job to Oliver and Mate this week; it’s been a great start to the season for you,” Mike said. “Mate, I think you’re 24 and it’s your first appearance in Monte-Carlo. We’ve been playing here 20 years and we’re turning 40 next week, so you have plenty of chances to win the title here.”
“Thank you to Prince Albert in the stands there,” Bob added. “He gave me a lucky coin on the first day of the tournament and he told me to keep it in my bag. It’s been good luck, so I will keep it in my bag for the rest of the year.”
As good as the former Stanford standouts have been this season, they could still use some luck. Still left on the table is an elusive 17th Grand Slam title and a potential return trip to the No. 1 ranking. The Bryan brothers have not won a slam since the 2014 U.S. Open, going 0-3 in finals during this drought (one runner-up in each of the past three years). They last held the top ranking spot in the fall of 2015, but regaining that distinction seems almost inevitable. The Bryans are 1,300 points behind Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo, who will soon have title-winning points to defend in Madrid and–most importantly–Wimbledon. Bob and Mike, on the other hand, lost in the second round of both the French Open and Wimbledon in 2017 and have nothing more than semifinal points to defend at any of the remaining Masters 1000s in 2018. Marach and Pavic, who are less than 300 points ahead of the Bryan brothers, have runner-up points to defend at Wimbledon.
So what is the reason for the relatively sudden turnaround?
One, they are back in a happy place and focusing on tennis for what is undoubtedly the stretch run of their illustrious career. With Bob having a young daughter and Mike going through a breakup with wife Lucille Williams, they were notably out of shape in 2016. Now Mike has completed his divorce, is dating model Nadia Murgasova, and the brothers are back in business both in the gym and on the court. Two, their hard work under new coach Dave Marshall has paid instant dividends. Marshall, a former Delaware State University coach who owns a tennis and fitness club in Delaware, joined the Bryans last spring.
“Dave Marshall has turned our game around,” Mike said following the recent Miami triumph.
That may be true, but the Bryan brothers have turned their own games around. Now all that’s missing is slam title No.17. And if that comes, the No. 1 ranking is sure to come with it.
they’re back!
‘If at first you don’t succeed, Try, try, try again.’
Their comeback is also is an interesting example of the need for stability in the lives of sportsmen and sportswomen. If there is lack of harmony at home their performance often suffers.
Very impressive ,old school doubles.
Wonder what happened between Mike and lucille