Bryan brothers bounced out of US Open, Calendar Grand Slam quest ends

India’s Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic ended the Grand Slam run of world number one doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan at the US Open semifinals with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win. The winning duo also avenged their loss to the twin brothers in last year’s US Open final.

The Bryans were on the verge of clinching a calendar year Grand Slam after they’ve won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon this year. They entered the US Open as the defending champions. The brothers were aiming to become the first doubles team to achieve the calendar year Grand Slam since 1951.

“As competitors we hate to lose, and we knew what was riding on this match and the opportunity of what we could have accomplished. And then in one sense it’s a little bit of a relief where you get to kind of exhale for the first time in a few months. All of this Grand Slam talk has been in the back of our head, and it’s been an honour to be a part of this run with Mike. It’s been a great 12 months,” Bob Bryan said.

“Those guys played a great match and we wish them luck in the finals,” he added.

“We’re pretty fortunate to have this opportunity. [We] played three matches on Arthur Ashe Stadium in a row. Played our third round out there on TV, which doesn’t happen pretty much ever in doubles. The crowds were great. Twenty-eight matches in a row in Grand Slams might not ever happen again, [but] we feel like we did all we can do. Probably never going to have another shot at it,” Mike Bryan said.

Paes stated that they managed to turn things around just in time and credited his partner for playing an exceptional match.

“I can’t say enough about my partner. We have got a little bit more work to do this week, but what he has been through this year, both him and I know. For me that will come with me to my grave and I will always be with him in his corner no matter where we go in our lives, no matter what we do.

“Radek had an injury in the Australian Open, went through spinal surgery in his neck, and has got a few little battle wounds right now to show for it. He looks as tough as anybody, but the way he’s recovered, the way he’s done his rehab, the way he’s stayed with it, to me, along with some other adversities this year, shows off a great champion that he is,” he added.

Up next for Paes and Stepanek is Alexander Peya of Austria and Bruno Soares of Brazil.