Bryan Brothers Win ATP Record 97th Team Title in Houston

The Bryan Brothers won their 17th straight match on Saturday night in Houston, defeating David Marrero & Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 6-4, 11-9 in the Fayes Sarofim & Company U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship. The American tandem of Bob & Mike Bryan used a comeback in the third set to defeat the duo from Spain and capture their ATP record 97th team title.

The Spanish tandem took the first set of the match after breaking Bob Bryan’s serve in the seventh game and serving out the rest of the set. Up 5-4 in the second set and with David Marrero serving up 40-30, the American brothers won the next two points of the game to take the second set and force the match tie-break.

In the third and final set, the Bryans took the first lead they had in the whole match by winning three straight points to go up 7-4. The Spaniards didn’t go away, however, and evened it up at seven-all following a double fault by the Bryans that flipped the momentum back to Marrero & Verdasco.

After the Bryan’s regained the lead at 9-7, the Spanish duo evened it up once again thanks to another double-fault by the Americans.  With the match tie-break tied up at 9, the Bryans finally put the match to bed after Verdasco’s return of Mike Bryan’s serve went into the net.

It was the fifth time that the Bryans won the title in Houston, and are now 31-7 overall on the clay courts of Houston.

“It was a match that could have gone either way,” said Bob Bryan. “It gives us confidence going into the (European) clay court season, beating such a tough clay court team. They kept us off balance all day with great serving and huge forehands.”

And while Verdasco fell short in winning a doubles title, the Spanish native took home the singles victory by defeating his fellow countrymen Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 7-6(4).

Verdasco got off to a great start in the first set as he jumped out to a 3-1 lead after breaking Almagro’s serve in the fourth game. After fighting off a break point in the ninth game, Verdasco captured the first set 6-3.

Almagro was not going to go away quietly, and saved three break points to gain open up a 4-1 lead in the second set. Despite his fatigue and a third set on the horizon, Verdasco battled back to trail just 4-5 thanks to Almagro’s inability to capitalize on his serve.

Verdaso then earned a hold by battling through five set points and a seven-deuce game. After that he didn’t allow his fellow Spaniard to win another point to secure his sixth career title and first since 2010.

“I think the key was my mentality during the week,” said Verdasco. “I kept going every point no matter how tired or how good I was feeling. Didn’t finish perfect since we lost the doubles final when we were close to win, but it was great that I am able to win the singles title.”