Bob and Mike Bryan claim third Australian Open doubles title

January 31, 2009

Americans Bob and Mike Bryan claimed their third Australian Open men's doubles title closing in further on two longstanding records held by great Australian pairing Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde.

The 2-6 7-5 6-0 victory over India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles from the Bahamas was the twins' seventh major title together, moving them to equal second behind only the Woodies with 11 from 1992-2000.

The Bryans have played in 14 grand slam deciders, only one less than Woodbridge and Woodforde.

Melbourne Park has long been a happy hunting ground for the Bryans, who have played in five of the last six finals at Melbourne Park.

But they started slowly dropping the first set in 27 minutes after Bob Bryan was broken twice.

The second set was a much tighter affair, with the only break coming in the 12th game when Knowles faltered, allowing the American pair to send the match into a decider.

The Americans dominated the third set, winning the match in one hour and 38 minutes.

The Bryans are one of seven men's doubles teams to have won each of the four majors at least once.

Six of the other pairings are all-Australian including the Woodies, Lew Hoad/Ken Rosewall and John Newcombe/Tony Roche.

Bhupathi will get one more chance to take home some silverware from the 2009 Australian Open when he pairs with compatriot Sania Mirza in Sunday's mixed doubles final against Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram from Israel.