Bryan Brothers One Win Away From 100 Career Titles After U.S. Open Victory

Bob & Mike Bryan took one step closer to their record 100th career doubles title Thursday afternoon by defeating Merrick, N.Y. native Scott Lipsky and his partner, Rajeev Ram, at the U.S. Open in a tough three-set match, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court.

In the first set, Lipsky and Ram missed three break point opportunities in the middle of the set, and then serving at 4-5, Lipsky was broken at love to give the Bryans the set.

Lipsky & Ram bounced right back in the second set, breaking Bob Bryan in the first game of the set. Ram served at 5-4, with a chance to serve out the set and he did just that. With an ace out wide to close the set, Ram & Lipsky evened the match at one set apiece.

“We played one loose game in the second set and it cost us, but we stayed positive and kept grinding," Bob Bryan said.

With the final set determining a place in the in the Open finals, tensions were high. The turning point happened in the fifth game with Lipsky serving. Lipsky fought off one break point against, but on the second, he double-faulted, giving the Bryans a 4-2 lead. While the Bryans couldn't pinpoint why they play so well on big points Bob Bryan said, "We try to keep our level high and pound on them with good quality again and again and again until we hope it adds up to a victory. We've been playing in pressure situations our whole life. It's all relative. At 10-years-old, we were playing the finals of the Sectionals and Kalamazoo and NCAA Finals and the Davis Cup. We've seen these situations so many times that we don’t get too nervous. We're just able to think clearly and try to put the best tennis out there as possible."

The Bryans, who are very tough when ahead, never looked back, as they seized momentum and played fast. Mike Bryan served out the match a few games later and sent the Bryans to the finals.

This will be the Bryan Brothers’ sixth U.S. Open final and 27th major final. When asked about the key to victory, Mike Bryan said, "Just hanging tough. We fought off a couple big break points three-all or two-all in the third. They were tough to break for over an hour. I think we broke the next game, so it was probably in the back of their head that they missed an opportunity. It was just gritty. We only broke twice … just very fine margins."

In the U.S. Open Men’s Doubles Finals, the Bryans will take on the 11th-seeded team of Marcel Granollers & Marc Lopez of Spain, a straight sets winner Thursday afternoon at Louis Armstrong Stadium over the fourth-seeded team of Ivan Dodig & Marcelo Melo in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

For Lipsky and Ram, it was a very successful tournament and they the furthest the duo has advanced in the men’s doubles draw at a major together.

"We fought through a very tough first round and played better each match as the tournament went on,” Lipsky said. Ram added, "We aren't satisfied though … we want to use this tournament as a stepping stone.”