Bryan Brothers Headline Inaugural New York Open

January 19, 2018 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Bryan Brothers (63)

 

The inaugural New York Open has the Long Island tennis community excited for the return of professional tennis, and only adding to that appeal was the announcement of Mike and Bob Bryan as headliners in the Men’s Doubles draw.

“We love firsts, and the idea of bringing the tour to New York in February is going to be great,” said Mike Bryan. “ATP tennis is back in a big way, and we’re happy to play on Long Island at NYCB Live, home of The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.”

The identical twins from Camarillo, Calif. are arguably the greatest doubles duo of all-time and, at 39-years-old, don’t seem to have missed a beat. The pair finished 2017 at number 11 in the ATP World Tour Doubles Rankings and took home two titles, and kicked off their 2018 campaign with an opening round victory at the Australian Open on Friday.

While this past season was not the typical dominant season that the Bryans have had throughout their career, the two are still at the top of the doubles game, and just remaining healthy and competing still remains a top priority.

“Staying healthy and enjoying the game,” said Bob Bryan when asked about the goals moving forward. “We’ve had such great success in our careers already, our goal is to end on a high-note, injury free and continue to make it to the Slams.”

One of the early stops on their calendar will be at NYCB Live, and the pair is excited to bring their show to Long Island.

“There’s an electricity from the New York crowd,” said Mike Bryan. “The fans bring an incredible amount of energy, while in other cities, tennis crowds are traditional and subdued. It’s a great vibe. New York fans are loud and seem to love the sport of tennis just as much we do.”

The pair are three-time champions of the Memphis Open, which makes up a small percentage of their 114 career titles together, and will hope to reclaim the tournament’s title when it makes its debut on Long Island.

“We were raised by our parents to stick together through thick and thin. Communication and honesty is key,” Bob Bryan said on the duo’s success. “Because we work together, we need to be as honest and open with each other as we can be. Any partners in business need clear lines of communication.”

Two of the most recognizable players in the sport, the Bryans have kept busy this offseason before their 2018 campaign begins. They do a lot of work with their charity organization, the Bryan Brothers Foundation, and recently partnered with legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus and the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation for golf and tennis pro-ams featuring stars from each sport.

The event raised $1 million for the foundations, and was another example of the impact that Mike and Bob Bryan have on and off the tennis court. That sort of impact should translate to a successful New York Open debut for them, as the Long Island and New York crowds will embrace the two all-time greats.

“We love competing in the New York market,” said Bob Bryan. “Fans seem to have an extra passion for tennis in New York. We’re looking forward to a great environment and a renovated facility in its first year. We’re so happy that the tournament has invited us to be a part of it.”

The two are now ready for the 2018 season, one where they hope they can continue the success they have achieved over the course of the last two decades. They begin the inaugural New York Open as one of the favorites in the doubles draw, and will begin their play the night of Tuesday, Feb. 13. The Long Island crowd hopes to see a lot of the patented chest-bumps the brothers have become famous for after victories.

 

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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