Twins Bob and Mike Bryan have hit some amazing shots while winning a record 78 tour titles over their career, but none may be as memorable as the one hit by Bob on Monday.
The duo was against the ropes in their third-round match against Santiago Gonzalez and Scott Lipski, who were two points away from an upset. While tied 5-5 in the second-set tiebreaker, Bob hit a casual yet improbable between the legs shot to keep the rally going.
"There were 20 different options," Mike Bryan said to the Associated Press. "He picked the 21st."
After the trick-shot was returned, Bob struck back with a forehand winner to take the lead in the tiebreak. On the next point the brothers took the set on a precise lob shot.
"When stuff like that happens, sometimes you feel like you're playing with house chips," Bob Bryan said to the Associated Press. "It's happened before."
There were only three service breaks during the match.
The Bryans rallied to win 6-7 (8), 7-6 (5), 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinal round against Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut. If they win that match they could possibly face off against the American duo of Christian and Ryan Harrison in the semifinals.
The brothers are going for their fourth career U.S. Open title. They have won 11 Grand Slams as a doubles team and also won this year's Olympic gold medal.
The Bryans are the most accomplished doubles team in tennis history and have finished as the No. 1 ranked doubles team seven times, which is a record.
The brothers will also play in the Davis Cup against Spain along with Americans John Isner and Sam Querry. They have a career 18-2 record in Davis doubles matches and previously won the Cup in 2007 playing alongside James Blake and Andy Roddick.
Rain plagued the U.S. Open on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, disrupting matches for Roddick, Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic.
The Bryans are set to play on Wednesday afternoon if the weather holds up.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
