Bryan Brothers Win Australian Open Doubles

Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan have become the most successful doubles team of all-time after capturing their 13th major title at the Australian Open on Saturday.

The American twins defeated Dutchmen Robin Haase and Igor Sijsling 6-3, 6-4 to lift their sixth trophy at Melbourne Park and overtake John Newcombe and Tony Roche’s mark of 12 major titles.

“It feels real good to have that record,” said Mike Bryan. “To be a part of history is pretty special. We weren’t thinking about it much out there, but now that we have it, it’s going to be fun to look back on our career and say we have the most Grand Slams. It’s a big record, so we’re pretty excited about it.”

The Bryans were contesting their ninth Australian Open doubles final in the past 10 years and were making an Open Era record 23rd appearance in a Grand Slam championship title match. Only John Bromwich and Adrian Quist have won more Australian championship doubles titles (with eight).

The 34-year-old Bryans earn 2000 Emirates ATP Doubles Team Rankings points. They finished 2003, 2005-07 and 2009-12 as the World No. 1-ranked team.

Both teams exchanged breaks of serve at the start of the match, but the Bryans settled their early nerves to win four straight games for a 4-1 lead. The pair won the first set in 23 minutes, having hit four aces and 13 winners past the first-time major championship finalists.

The Bryans broke serve in the third game of the second set and maintained their advantage to complete victory on Rod Laver Arena in 53 minutes. The duo dropped two sets in six matches en route to their 84th tour-level title.

Haase and Sijsling were bidding to become the first all-Dutch doubles team to win a major doubles title since 1998, when Jacco Eltingh and Paul Haarhuis won Wimbledon. The duo has previously won one match as a team in six tournaments.