Top seeds and two-time defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan took time out from their first-match preparations at the Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid yesterday to sign autographs and copies of the new ATP Feel the Speed of Doubles book for fans.
The American twins, who have amassed a 60-14 doubles record and clinched five titles this year, will contest their first match since winning the US Open crown last month against Brazilians Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa in Madrid on Thursday.
In second round action, fifth seeds Jonas Bjorkman and Kevin Ullyett—who are tied No. 5 in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race—boosted their chances of qualifying for Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai after beating Tomas Berdych and Nicolas Kiefer 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 in 80 minutes.
Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic, who are locked in a two-team battle with the Bryan brothers for year-end No. 1 honours, advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-6(3), 6-4 win over Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco.
Polish duo Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski also advanced to the quarterfinals on Wednesday, after edging past French duo and recent Metz titlists Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra 7-5, 7-6(14) in 91 minutes.
Rafael Nadal, who had been due to partner compatriot Carlos Moya in the second round against fourth seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles on Wednesday afternoon, withdrew from that match due to slight pain in his lower back.
(Images by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Dubs no. 1 Bob and Mike Bryan have played to some big crowds during their careers.
But nothing quite prepared them for the buzz of rocking with Counting Crows in front of 25,000 fans at Tampa, Florida last Friday.
The 30-year-old California twins joined the band on stage for the song 'Hanging Around'.
Bob played keyboards, including a solo midway through the song. Mike played a rhythm acoustics guitar, including a brief solo. "It's been a childhood dream of ours to be rock stars and I've had dreams of playing in front of that many people," Bob said.
"So it was great to finally become a rock star - even if it was just for six minutes."
The Bryans are friends with band member Jim Bogios, hooking up the drummer with Centre Court tickets to the Nadal-Federer final at Wimbledon this year and tickets during the US Open.
"Jim mentioned to us that he'd like to get us on stage with the band. We didn't think he was serious but everyone in the band was on the same page," Mike said.
But a two-hour flight delay from the West Coast Friday almost cost the Bryans their dream. After landing late in Tampa they rushed to the Ford Amphitheater.
"When we landed we were worried about the time but we got a text from Jim saying 'You can't get out of this now. You're going to be sitting in with us for Hanging Around.' That's when we started getting really nervous," Mike said.
"Bob has had extra time to practice (keyboards) in recent weeks because of his shoulder injury, and in the car to the concert he brushed up on a mini keyboard on his iPhone. He really got it tight and played brilliantly."
Midway through 'Hanging Around' lead singer Adam Duritz introduced Bob and Mike to the crowd, who roared their approval.
The Bryans are practicing at Saddlebrook this week and with Bob's left shoulder steadily improving, they expect to play the ATP Masters Series event in Madrid, which begins Sunday.
Bob has been sidelined since winning a second US Open title with Mike in early September. Mike's only appearance since then was a five-set Davis Cup win with Mardy Fish against Spain in Madrid almost three weeks ago.
Click here to download the audio (via ATP site). (Note: Counting Crows have granted permission for the track to appear on that ATP site)
*Listen to the brothers playing in Hanging Around. Bob's keyboards solo starts at 2:26 into the clip, with Mike's guitar solo starting around 3:30.
(Via ATP site)
Andre Agassi's philanthropic ways inspire Bob and Mike Bryan to establish their own foundation.
The 30-year-old twins held their inaugural charity event for their Bryan Brothers' Foundation on Saturday at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks and got the man himself to headline.
Agassi made a rare appearance to help raise money for the foundation — in the All-Star Tennis Smash — which benefits at-risk kids in Ventura County — and was joined by American tennis stars James Blake, Robby Ginepri, Justin Gimelstob, Paul Goldstein and Lindsay Davenport.
"I have been privileged to lead a privileged life with this sport and my choice to give back and do what I decided to do was something I felt deeply for a long time," Agassi said.
"For others to be inspired by it is one thing. But the truth is, they are doing the hard hours every day. You can't just wake up and say this is what I want. You have to earn it every day, and these guys are doing it."
The Bryans knew from the moment they began planning their foundation they wanted Agassi to help kick it off.
"He knows we idolize him and still have his posters up in our garage and are the reason we have rackets in our hand," Mike Bryan said.
"Out of the goodness of his heart, he did this for us and really made this event happen. We'll never forget it. We are his slaves for life."
Agassi became the pioneer for charity in men's tennis when he established The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation and Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas.
"We know that if we band together and commit to support each other that is the best opportunity to affect change," said Gimelstob, who started the Justin Gimelstob Children's Fund in 1998.
"We have all been very loyal to each other and the Bryans do so much for so many people and are always the first to promote tennis, so for them to ask is a no-brainer. Just tell me where and when to be there."
Last year, Blake established the Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Research Fund to help support cancer research.
The fund is named in memory of his father, who died of gastric cancer in 2004. "If you have a voice, you might as well use it for a positive change," Blake said.
"That is the way we have all felt and I have been fortunate enough my parents instilled that in me and it seems like this generation has a great group of parents to lead them and teach them the right way to be a role model."
Ginepri remembers struggling to finance his tennis career while growing up in Georgia.
Once he turned professional, he began working with the Atlanta Youth Foundation for underprivileged kids. "If you can give a kid a racket and reach out to them and help them pursue their dreams that is what matters," Ginepri said.
"We all realize that and will always be there to help each other's causes."
The giving nature even crosses over to the women's side, although it might not be as apparent, says Davenport.
"You probably don't see it as much because we don't have tons of Americans up there playing," she said.
"Obviously, the Williams sisters and I know Maria (Sharapova) has her own foundation, but there are not as many Americans doing so well at the top like the guys have to help each other out."
The Bryans raised $285,000 in pre-sale tickets alone for their event, and figured to raise much more through an auction.
After seeing the turnout at Sherwood, Bob Bryan knew he could rest easy at his Spanish Hills home.
"At 30 years old, it's not all about tennis," he said.
"It is about what helps you sleep at night and doing stuff like this makes you feel good because you know how many lives it will impact."
Updates:
Thanks to Adam for this extra piece of info and photos.
Later that evening, at a Gala Dinner, the brothers feted Agassi for his charitable endeavors in front of a star-studded audience of players and celebrities, including Maria Sharapova and Kaley Cuoco.
The evening began with an incredible auction featuring autographed tennis racquets, an evening with Bob and Mike Bryan, and a day with Maria Sharapova, and was capped off by performances from a host of musical guests, including acoustic singer/songwriters Evan and Jaron and a surprise performance by Columbia Records recording artist Brandi Carlile.
(Via venturacountystar.com, Image via zimbio.com)
Mike and Bob Bryan, hold the award they received from the City of Oxnard on
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, at Plaza Park in Oxnard.
The Bryan Brothers’ All-Star Tennis Smash will take place on Saturday, September 27, 2008 at the Sherwood Country Club.
The event will feature tennis stars and celebrities, including Andre Agassi, Gavin Rossdale, Lindsay Davenport, James Blake, Sam Querrey, John Isner, Thomas Blake, Justin Gimelstob, Corina Morariu, Jon Lovitz, Amaury Nolasco, Brandi Carlile and Mardy Fish.
The event is Agassi’s first scheduled public playing tennis appearance this year. The All-Star Tennis Smash will benefit local and national charities including City Impact, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping kids in Ventura County.
Agassi, in a large part, is the reason why the Bryans have forged ahead with this effort. "Andre really inspired them, as well as alot of American players, to give back," said Wayne Bryan, the players' father, after a ceremony Friday to honour the foundation.
"We've been trying for two years to get this going, and Sherwood's a great venue to kick it off," said Mike, who recently teamed with Fish on the U.S. doubles team in Spain during the Davis Cup semis.
Hopefully we'll see some of the photos from this event soon.
(Image by Tina Burch/dailynews.com)
Injured doubles player Bob Bryan has been replaced on the U.S. team by Mardy Fish for the Davis Cup semifinal against Spain this weekend, the second high-profile loss for the American side.
Bryan is recovering in the U.S. after receiving a cortisone shot for an inflamed left shoulder, team spokesman Tim Curry said.
The U.S. Davis Cup team pose before a press conference in Madrid. Left to right: Sam Querrey, Andy Roddick, team captain Patrick McEnroe, Mike Byran and Mardy Fish.
Singles player James Blake, who has been a regular on the U.S. team since 2005, pulled out last week citing exhaustion.It will be the first time in 16 Davis Cup matches that Bryan and his twin brother, Mike, won’t play together. The Bryans, who are 14-2 since debuting in 2003, helped the U.S. win the Davis Cup last year. “I aggravated it pretty bad at the (U.S.) Open and only made things worse,” Bryan said on the Davis Cup Web site. “I knew if I wanted a chance to play the rest of this year, I had to shut it down now. I can’t even hit any balls.”
The 23rd-ranked Fish practiced on the clay Tuesday with Mike Bryan and could line up with him in doubles.
Andy Roddick during a practice session at the Las Ventas Bullring in Madrid.
The U.S. team's Andy Roddick, left, plays the ball to Sam Querrey during a practice.
The other team members are Andy Roddick and Sam Querrey, who replaced Blake. “When you have a pair like the Bryans that know each other well … a match against them is always difficult,” Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario said.
“But Fish reached the quarters of Australian and U.S. Open and comes with talent even if he doesn’t play doubles in a consistent fashion.”
The best-of-five series begins Friday with two singles matches, followed by the doubles on Saturday and reverse singles Sunday.
Fish is 5-5 in Davis Cup play, including 4-4 in singles and 1-1 in doubles. His last appearance was in 2004, when he won one singles match and lost another as Spain beat the U.S. in the final in Seville.The matches will be played on red clay at the Las Ventas bullfighting arena.
The Spanish team is led by No. 1-ranked Rafael Nadal.
Spain's team captain Emilio Sanchez, speaks during a press conference. Left to right: Rafael Nadal, Emilio Sanchez, Fernando Verdasco and Nicolas Almagro. 
Rafael Nadal doesn't really enjoy press conference.
Though Spain appears the overwhelming favourite now, Sanchez Vicario said the team was doing some adjusting of its own to the Spanish capital’s high altitude. “The altitude is something that influences the game very much, but we feel positive here and we will look to play the best we can,” he said. “We came here early to accustom ourselves to it.”
(Via AP Sports, Images by Yahoo! Sports)
American twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan won their seventh Grand Slam men's doubles crown defeating India's Leander Paes and Czech Lukas Dlouhy 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (12/10) to take the U.S. Open title.The Bryans, who ran through the tournament without losing a set, previously won Slam crowns at Roland Garros in 2003, the US Open in 2005, Wimbledon in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2006 and 2007.
The defeat denied Paes a chance at a U.S. Open doubles double, having already claimed the mixed crown with Zimbabwe's Cara Black.
The victory enables the Bryans to move back into the world number one ranking from second.
(Image by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Gold medalists Roger Federer (3rd L) and Stanislas Wawrinka (3rd R) of Switzerland, Silver medalists Simon Aspelin (L) and Thomas Johansson (2nd L) from Sweden, and Bronze medalists Bob and Mike Bryan of US pose for pictures after competing in the men's double's tennis competition at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre in Beijing on August 16, 2008.
It doesn't matter whether it's men's singles or doubles, Roger Federer still won his first Olympic gold medal! And that matters!An Olympic gold is priceless for Roger Federer who has an extensive trophy collection. By teaming up with Stanislas Wawrinka the Swiss duo won the Olympic doubles yesterday beating Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson of Sweden 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3.
Federer extended his arms in triumph and began to hop (which you don't quite often see as a singles player. Then, he embraced Wawrinka and they hopped together (hehe!).
With so many disappointment this year, Federer had waited long enough for a big victory to celebrate. And the Olympics is such a huge boost for his confidence.
After three Olympics, Federer is finally a medalist for the first time! "Sort of a dream-come-true moment," Federer said. "Maybe it comes around once in a lifetime. It's almost disbelief, to some degree."
(Images by PHILIPPE HUGUEN/BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images)
Top seeds and two-time defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan took time out from their first-match preparations at the Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid yesterday to sign autographs and copies of the new ATP Feel the Speed of Doubles book for fans.
