Americans Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan moved one win closer to their fifth title at the LA Tennis Open as they dismissed the Brazilian combo of Andre Sa and Marcelo Melo, 6-2, 6-4. In the quarters they defeated Russians Igor Kunitsyn and Marat Safin 6-3, 6-2, while setting aside Carsten Ball and Kaes Van't Hof in the first round, 7-5, 6-2.
The Bros. will play Benjamin Becker and Frank Moser of Germany in the doubles final today at the LA Tennis Center at UCLA. The match starts at 12:00 noon and will be televised later in the day on Tennis Channel.
The 31-year-old twins improved to a 23-6 event record, and have now won 11 straight matches in Los Angeles without the loss of a set. They successfully defended the hard-court title on their last event appearance in 2007, adding to their previous triumphs in 2001, '04 and '06. They missed last year’s tournament after traveling to Beijing to represent the U.S. in the 2008 Olympic Games, where they went on to clinch the bronze medal. Excerpted from the ATP WEB Site.
Fast Facts:
*** The Doubles Final is Sunday at noon at the LA Tennis Center at UCLA. It will be televised at 5:00 West Coast Time and 8:00 PM East Coast Time on Tennis Channel in High Def.
*** The Bros. want to extend their most heartfelt thanks to Bob Kramer and his staff and volunteers for all their hard work and warm hospitality in hosting the LA Open. Mike and Bob consider it their home tournament and they so greatly appreciate the support of their family, friends and fans who have rooted them on all week.
*** The twins will be competing in the 90th doubles final of their career today and their 8th of the 2009 campaign.
*** The Bryans have won 53 doubles titles in their career and have captured 4 doubles championships this season, having won Sydney, the Australian Open, Delray Beach, and Houston. They have been finalists at Monte Carlo, Rome, and Wimbledon.
*** Mike 'n Bob have a 46-11 match record this year.
*** They are dedicating their match today to their Grandmom, Alice Bryan, who celebrated her 87th birthday on Friday, and to their Granddad, Carl, whose birthday comes up in a couple of days. They are also dedicating this final to their friend Alex Smith in Houston who came to Birmingham and Wimbledon to root on the guys.
*** Mike and Bob have been working hard on their new album, Let It Rip. Their other band member is David Baron from San Francisco and they have been recording all week with producer Ralph Churchwell in Hollywood. They hope to finish next week and have it ready for release at the US Open.
*** The brothers were happy to have won their 16th Davis Cup match in Croatia a few weeks ago and they enjoyed playing four matches for the Kansas City Explorers during the World Team Tennis season. They won all four of their Men's Doubles Matches and did a gala Bryan Bros. Band performance in Sacramento, while defeating their Dad's Caps team. Thanks to Jeff Lanius and Lonnie Nielson for having them play for KC and against Sac Town.
*** The Bros. Dad, Coach Wayne Bryan, has emceed and done clinics at the LA Open this week and will do the same at the Legg Mason in Washington DC next week. Mike and Bob regret missing that tournament this year and have played their for most of the past ten years. They have played 14 straight weeks of tennis - - - Houston in April through the clay court season in Europe and the grass court season in Wimbledon, then on to Croatia for Davis Cup and then World Team Tennis - - - and they really need a week off before playing Toronto, Cincy, and the US Open. They send their best wishes for a great tournament to Tournament Director Jeff Newman and to Tournament Founder Donald Dell. They also extend their congratulations to Donald on his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport three weeks ago.
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