Doubles Grand Slam

[GameSetAndMath]

Let us talk doubles, these folks do not get enough attention.
Specifically, let us talk about the possibility of Bryan Brothers
completing true calendar grand slam at the US Open this year.
Also, I believe no pair has ever achieved doubles grand slam
(unlike in Singles).

As of now, Bryan Brothers have 10,805 points as a team.
The second highest team has 3,805 points. That is a difference
of 7000 points between the first and second teams, ridiculously
large amount. So, is there anyone who thinks BB will not finish
the task.

They dropped out of DC claiming shoulder injury to one
of them. But, I guess it is a fake excuse as they want to
preserve themselves for this important task. However, I believe
they will play both Montreal and Cincy.

 

[tented]

Great thread!

One team completed the calendar slam in 1951, but it has never been done since.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Grand_Slam_men%27s_doubles_champions

If the Bryan brothers do it -- and I think and hope they will -- it will be quite an achievement. They currently hold all four Majors (just not in a calendar year), plus they're the reigning Olympic gold medalists. They've won every Masters at least once, and every Major at least twice.

Here are some more of their numbers:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATP_Tour_records#Doubles_.281972.E2.80.93present.29

The most Majors as a team: 15
The most titles overall: 91 (the second team on that list won 61)

 

[GameSetAndMath]

OK. It was done before. But not in the open era. Having said that, I
guess the difference (between open era and pre-opern era) in the
quality of players participating might
not be huge in the doubles competition.

In 1999 Leander Peas and Mahesh Bhupathi reached the finals
of all four and won two of them. Peas and Bhupathi would have
really shattered some records if only they stuck together. They
got into ego problems and stopped playing with each other
long time ago.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Slightly digressing (from Men's doubles to
Mixed doubles), with Martina Hingis making a comeback in
doubles, I expect her to play mixed doubles with Leander Peas
at the USO.

Martina Hingis has 5 singles GS titles, 9 doubles GS titles
and 1 mixed doubles GS title, not to mention more than 200
weeks as #1 in Singles. Peas is a man of his own accomplishments
in doubles with multiple men's doubles (including a career
grand slam) GS titles and mixed doubles titles.

Aside from each of them having their own accomplishments,
they have played together as a team for the Washington
Kastles for the last two years in the WTT leading the Kastles to
two titles and so they do have chemistry also between them.

So, I tip them for the USO Mixed Doubles Crown.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I hate playing it but love watching some good doubles tennis. Bryan bros are doing something amazing really. I hope they win the Open.
Which reminds me of a quote from Peter Fleming...when asked who the best doubles team was, he said " McEnroe and anyone else..." JMac really was a special doubles player .

 

[GameSetAndMath]

In all the excitement about Nadal's great showing on HCs, I forgot about Bryan Brothers.
They had lost in the QFs at Montreal to Nestor and Lindestedt with a score line of
6-7, 6-3, 10-5. I did not see or read anything about the match.

It is ok to lose a tournament as long as there is no implications beyond it.
If somebody has seen or heard about the match, I would appreciate knowing if
there is anything to worry (as one the BB claimed some shoulder injury going in
to Montreal).

 

[Kieran]

It'd be a great achievement and a huge advert for doubles...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

After a brief hick-up in Montreal, Bryan Brothers are back to the winning ways
lifting the Cincy Trophy today.

Onto first ever Open Era Doubles Grand Slam!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I read today in ATP wedbsite that Bryan Brothers have already clinched year
end #1. Hope, they don't fall prey to "early peaking" and complete the true grand slam.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I read today in ATP wedbsite that Bryan Brothers have already clinched year
end #1. Hope, they don't fall prey to "early peaking" and complete the true grand slam.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Slightly digressing (from Men's doubles to
Mixed doubles), with Martina Hingis making a comeback in
doubles, I expect her to play mixed doubles with Leander Peas
at the USO.

Martina Hingis has 5 singles GS titles, 9 doubles GS titles
and 1 mixed doubles GS title, not to mention more than 200
weeks as #1 in Singles. Peas is a man of his own accomplishments
in doubles with multiple men's doubles (including a career
grand slam) GS titles and mixed doubles titles.

Aside from each of them having their own accomplishments,
they have played together as a team for the Washington
Kastles for the last two years in the WTT leading the Kastles to
two titles and so they do have chemistry also between them.

So, I tip them for the USO Mixed Doubles Crown.

Contrary to my expectations Martina is playing with Mahesh Bhupathy
(the enemy of Leander Peas) instead of Leander Paes her Team Tennis Partner.
Does anybody know any inside story of what is going on?

Anyway, that is still a formidable team. Also, Jack Sock erstwhile
winner of Mixed event at USO is playing with Sloane Stephens.

Overall Mixed Doubles draw this year looks quite unattractive both in terms of
interesting pairs and in terms of quality pairs.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Bryan Brother's have won the first round. They are projected to play
Nesto and Popsicle in the third round. That could prove to be a tough match
against a pair of experienced and upcoming canadians.

 

[nehmeth]

[split] Doubles Grand Slam

Pospisil and Nestor on the verge of knocking off the Twins and Nestor chokes it away.

 

[tented]

[split] Doubles Grand Slam

I want the Bryans to succeed in their quest for the calendar year GS. This is nerve-racking!

 

[tented]

[split] Doubles Grand Slam

They won after losing the first set in a tiebreak: 6-7(1), 7-5, 6-2.

The calendar year GS is still in sight.

 

[Asmodeus]

I have to say that we (Americans) continually lament the current state of American tennis when in fact we have some excellent tennis to root for.

It's sad that we forget about these guys. As Americans, we should be real proud of what these guys have accomplished and are doing.

Our singles tennis may be a mess but our doubles, dare I say, seems to be the best ever.

 

[Moxie]

In a rare nod to doubles, the Bryans are up on Ashe tomorrow night after the Nadal match. Great job by the Open to make them marquee. Also a note on doubles, Granollers won his singles match tonight, and is still in doubles, playing tomorrow with Marc Lopez.

 

[britbox]

I thought Nestor had teamed up with Paes?

 

[nehmeth]

I thought Nestor had teamed up with Paes?

Maybe at some point he had.

Yesterday Pospisil would have been grateful to have Shirley Temple out there playing doubles instead of Nestor, who lost his serve three times and blew numerous other points - turning a major upset into another win for the Americans.

:nono

 

[britbox]

I thought Nestor had teamed up with Paes?

Maybe at some point he had.

Yesterday Pospisil would have been grateful to have Shirley Temple out there playing doubles instead of Nestor, who lost his serve three times and blew numerous other points - turning a major upset into another win for the Americans.

:nono

I think Danny boy is possibly approaching the end now. He's probably been the main rival to the Bryans for much of their success. I was surprised to see them meeting so early in the tournament more than anything.