***  The Bryans are helping host the Groovin' in the Grove for Gracie at the Camarillo Oak Grove Park, on Saturday, May 29, from 3:00 to dusk.  Gracie Garcia, a long time employee at the Cabrillo Racquet Club, needs funds for a liver treatment.  Several of the top SoCal bands, including the Estrada Brothers and the Wayne Bryan Band, along with famed singer Rosemary Butler, will perform.  The response has been overwhelming and the the park will be packed for this gala event.

In an all-American final at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament, the Bryans defeated their pals and Davis cup teammates John Isner and Sam Querrey 6-2, 6-3 in just 49 minutes to capture their fourth tour-level title of the season.

“It’s getting pretty close now (to the Open Era record)," said Mike Bryan. "Already four titles this year, so the next one’s going to be the big one.  It’s going to be a big final, a lot of nerves.  We’re hoping to tie it before we get out of Europe.  We don’t want to get the monkey on our back and have to be thinking about it, so we want to do it as quick as possible.

“It’s huge for us to be considered a great team like the Woodies.  We’re hoping to do it.  Probably Wimbledon would be the best place to do it in because that’s on TV live back in the States, Centre Court match, that would be exciting."

In the first all-American final in Rome in the Open Era, the Bryans swiftly secured the opening set with two service breaks in the fourth and eighth games.  They then closed out victory in the second set with a break of serve in the eighth game before Mike Bryan served out to 15.  The Bryans were contesting the final at the Foro Italico for the fifth time.  They finished runner-up in 2005, 2007 and 2009 and captured the title in 2008 (d. Nestor-Zimonjic).

The Bryans, who celebrated their 32nd birthday on Thursday, have a perfect 4-0 record in tour-level finals this season after triumphing at the Australian Open in January, Delray Beach in February and Houston on clay last month.  They improved to a 14-12 record in Masters 1000 finals.

“John and Sam are great guys.  Two of our best friends on tour," complimented Mike Bryan.  "We were joking that they’re going after our Davis Cup spot.  They’re the future of American tennis.  They’re going to have bright futures.  With their weapons they can do singles and doubles.  They want to go to London and make the Masters (Barclays ATP World Tour Finals) in doubles and I think they’re going to do it.”  Excerpted from ATP Staff reports.
 

Fast Facts:

*** Other wins for the Bros. at the Italian Open included:  Frantisek Cermak (Czech Republic)-Michal Mertinak (Slovakia), 6-4, 6-1; Nicolas Almagro-Marcel Granollers (Spain), 6-3, 3-6, 10-6;  Lukasz Kubot (Poland)-Oliver Marach (Austria), 6-1, 6-2; and John Isner-Sam Querrey (USA), 6-2, 6-3.

***  Mike 'n Bob won their semis and finals both in 49 minutes, losing a total of just 8 games in their last two matches.

*** The twins, in a funny way, would like to say thanks to the Italian Triumvirate of Jimmy Gucciardo, Tomas Bruno, and Gary Cuoco.  When Mike and Bob were just little guys, these three always talked about the Italian Open being the greatest of all titles - - - and told the youngsters that it was even bigger than Wimbledon or the US Open or the Davis Cup.  They motivated and inspired the Bros. to always play this event and try to win it - - - and now they have been in five finals there in Rome, winning it twice.  On their Mom Kathy's due date when she was pregnant, she and Wayne played and beat Gucciardo and Bruno in a close match on the center court at Cabrillo, while Bruno kept telling Gucciardo to drop shot and lob Kathy . . .

*** The Bros. are off this week and then will play Madrid and the Dusseldorf World Team Cup, before playing the French Open in Paris.  For the World Team Cup the Bryans will play with Isner and Querrey.

*** Thanks to the great Tennis Channel for televising the final and we have received so many e mails from friends and fans who enjoyed watching the match. 

*** Two weeks ago, Coach Bryan spoke to juniors, parents and coaches at the Easter Bowl in Palm Springs.  He appeared for Prince and he was assisted warmly by Max Brownlee and Peg Connor.  He also did some music there with his pal and drummer, Jimmy Wolff.

*** Coach Bryan spoke at the astoudingly classy and beautiful Hillcrest Country Club last Tuesday Night.  Nick Getz does a fabulous job there and he could not have been kinder or more hospitable.  He played at San Diego State and is the son of jazz legend Stan. 

*** For the past four days Coach B has emceed and done clinics at the Champions Series Event in Boston with the likes of Jim Courier, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, and Matt Wilander.  It was a fantastic and exciting week thanks to Jon Venison and his winning staff.  While there, Coach Bryan also worked with the Harvard Women's Team on their doubles.  The Team is ranked #41 in the US and #2 in the Ivy League and their coach, Tracy Green was on the US National Junior Team with Mike 'n Bob and is a long time pal.  She is doing a terrific job for the Crimson.  Thanks also to Harvard Men's Coach, Dave Fish, for being so kind and hospitable in hosting Champions Series clinics and a pro am at his best of all indoor facilities.

*** Week before last he spoke and did clinics in Corpus Christie.  He was so impressed with the Tennis Success program headed up by the dynamic and hard working Ronald Elizando.  The kids there are doing great things there with their tennis and academics.

*** On Monday, Coach B will do clinics and talks and Legg Mason promo events in Washington DC and Bethesda.

*** On Saturday, May 29, from 2:00-7:30, Coach Bryan is helping stage Groovin' at the Grove, a fundraiser for Gracie Garcie to help her raise funds for her liver disease treatment.  The event featuring the areas top bands including the Wayne Bryan Band and the Pasta People will be held at the Camarillo Oak Grove Park.  Kristin Loft and Kathy Bryan are working hard to make this event fun and successful.

*** Other charity events this Fall for the Bryan Brothers Foundation include:  the Spanish Hills Country Club Pro Am and Exhibition on Saturday, Sept. 25, headed up by Dave McKinney.  The Bryan Brothers Grand Slam Jam will be held at the Malibu Racquet Club on Saturday, October 23, and will also feature an Exo and Pro Am and the gala night of music will be held at a club in Hollywood, tba.  Driving forces behind this event are: big time music execs Bill Vuylsteke, Jonathan Mchugh, Sean McCarthy and Richard Bondroff of the Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program.  Former tour player and club GM, Trey Walke, and tennis pro, John McCampbell have also been very gracious and helpful.

*** On a sad note, the Bros. have dedicated this title to Bobby Morin, a family friend, who passed away last week after a long and wonderful life.  He was a movie producer who had a heart of gold, a ready smile, fabulous sense of humor and he was a man who cared about others and always had a quip and positive word to say.  He was always behind Mike and Bob every step of the way and he loved his tennis.  We send along our most heartfelt sympathy to his wife Audrey.  Their relationship was an inspiration to us all . . .

The Bryans’ 58th team title moved them ahead of Americans Peter Fleming-John McEnroe and South Africans Bob Hewitt-Frew McMillan, with each of those pairs winning 57 titles, and placed them just three back of Australians Todd Woodbridge-Mark Woodforde’s record mark.

"It’s pretty cool to be on our own,” said Mike Bryan. “I’m sure they’re not going to get any easier.  You feel a little more extra pressure because everyone’s talking about it, we’re even thinking about it now.  We’re in this final, we see this on paper, it’s a pretty good matchup for us ranking-wise, it’s just a good shot at a title. 
                                                               "We want to break the record.”

The Bryans broke Marx and Zelenay once from five chances in the opening set and fought off three break points faced on serve to close out the straight-sets win in 69 minutes.  The Americans were contesting their third straight final at the ATP World Tour 250 hard-court tennis tournament, having reached the final in 2008 and winning the title last year, defeating Marcelo Melo-Andre Sa, of Brazil.

They improved to an 11-2 season mark with their second title of the year.  They kicked off the 2010 campaign by winning the Australian Open for the fourth time over rivals Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic in the finals.  It was their eight Grand Slam Championship and they have been in a record setting sixteen Grand Slam Finals.

Mike Bryan said about chasing the all-time doubles titles record this season: “We’re going to try not to worry about it.  We have goals to be No. 1, and to be No. 1 you have to win titles.”

In 2009, they clinched the ATP World Tour Doubles Champions title for the fifth time in seven years, tying Woodbridge and Woodforde for most year-end No. 1 finishes.

The 31-year-old American twins celebrated another milestone Saturday with their semi-final victory, becoming the first team in the Open Era to win 600 matches together.  "It's a special milestone for us," Mike Bryan said. "To play this long together and still be doing it with 600 wins is quite an accomplishment.  It's good to do it in Delray, a place we like coming to, and where American fans can support us."  Excerpted from the ATP WEB Site.