The Bryan Brothers – Bob and Mike – have tied the record for most doubles titles won by a team in the Open Era of tennis (since 1968), by defeating Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Madrid Masters in Spain on Sunday. The tournament victory – their 61st title together – ties them with the Australian pair of Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge.
The Bryans will look to break the record at the French Open, which starts next Sunday in Paris. The win in Madrid also moved the brothers back to the top ATP World Tour doubles rankings.
As documented in the historical book THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS ($35.95, New Chapter Press, www.NewChapterMedia.com), the all-time winningest doubles team is Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver, who have won 79 doubles titles. In men’s doubles, the teams of John McEnroe and Peter Fleming and Bob Hewitt and Frew McMillan each won 57 titles – which places each team in a tie for third place. Earlier this year, by winning the Australian Open, the Bryans moved passed the Woodies into the first place all-time for most final-round appearances in Grand Slam tournaments by a men’s doubles team with their 16th appearance. The Bryans have won eight major men’s doubles titles (4 Australian, 1 French, 1 Wimbledon and 2 US Open titles) and are four titles away from equaling John Newcombe and Tony Roche’s all-time record of 12 titles.
The Woodies will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame this July in Newport, R.I.