The Bryan brothers will have to wait to add the most important record of all to their extraordinary resumes after losing in the men’s doubles final to Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek.
The twins, who were competing for the chance to win the most Grand Slam titles as a doubles team, had faced a race against the clock in the build-up to this evening’s final, with Bob’s wife Michelle due to give birth to their first child tomorrow.
“I was hoping we could get it done and go home and have the baby,” Bob laughed afterwards, clearly disappointed, but his mind already on the flight home. “She’s been a trooper, she’s done her job, we almost did our job.”
The twins, who beat the Indian and Czech combination, playing together as a new partnership this year, in Sydney two weeks ago, were slightly off the mark in the opening set, giving away what Bob called a couple of “sloppy points” to lose the first-set tie-break 7-1 after 47 minutes.
With the momentum firmly in the Paes/Stepanek camp, the underdogs broke early, accelerating into a 3-0 lead. Paes, who had never won the Australian Open title before tonight, urged himself on effusively to hold for 5-2 in the second set, and the rest was history, the unseeded duo toppling the No.1 seeds 7-6(1), 6-2 after an hour and 24 minutes.
Holding hands and jumping around like five-year-olds in a playground, it was clear how much it meant in particular to Paes, the title completing his set of career Grand Slam doubles titles.
“I know what this tournament means for him, because only this title was missing in his career Grand Slam so I’m happy that I can be by your side and it’s a great honour and fun to play with you,” Stepanek said to his deliriously happy partner.
“To my partner Radek, this is our first Grand Slam together, I’ve been in five finals, I’ve lost to the two brothers three times, thanks for putting me on your shoulder,” Paes responded.
The Bryans meanwhile, although disappointed, remain determined to keep on trucking in 2012.
“It was tight early, I thought we were playing ok, we knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Bob said. “But I tip my hat to them, they played well. It’s nice to get a couple of cracks early, that’s a team that’s going to be around a lot in big stages.
“I thought we’ve had a great Australian swing. It bodes well for the rest of the year,” he continued. “It was a hell of a trip to go 9 and 1 in Australia. A lot of fond memories. I’m going into the hospital on Monday, that’s going to be another battle.”
Mike meanwhile heads home to Florida and then to Switzerland to play for the USA in the forthcoming Davis Cup tie in two weekends time.
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