WTT Washington Kastles

Bryan Brothers Win 111th Title in Barcelona; Coach Murphy Coming to D.C. this Weekend

April 28, 2016 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


Bob and Mike Bryan, the newest additions to the Kastle's roster and the team's first round draft picks, continued their strong start to the clay court season by winning the Barcelona Open this week in Spain for their 111th career title.

The brothers defeated the 13th-ranked doubles team of Pablo Cuevas and Marcel Granollers in the final, 7-5, 7-5. It was the second title of the clay season for the Bryan brothers who won the US Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston just two weeks ago.

The Bryans claimed their 111th title at the Barcelona Open. (Photo courtesy of the ATP)

In the final, the Bryans heavily pressured Cuevas and Granollers on serve, forcing 13 break points throughout the match. The duo also enjoyed a big advantage on the return, winning 64 percent of second-serve points.

In the first set, the brothers came back from a break down 3-4 to win the set. In the second, the Bryans were too good on break points against them. They won four break points to erase any chance for Cuevas and Granollers to gain a lead in the set. The Bryans then needed a single break to clinch the win in the second set.

The brothers only dropped one set en route to the final, winning a 10-7 third set tiebreak in the semifinals against Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi. The title gives the duo 500 rankings points, bumping them up to No.4 in the world.

"We feel like we're starting to play some really great tennis again. This week we put together four quality matches against some really tough teams," Mike said in an interview with the ATP Tour.

"It was a hard-fought match against two experienced clay court players," Bob said.

Mike added, "It's always fun to beat two tough dirt ballers in front of a partisan and raucous and great Spanish crowd."

The Bryan brothers have now won the Barcelona Open three times, with the other titles coming in 2008 and 2003. They even jumped into a pool to celebrate the title, which you can check out here. Below is a still from the celebration, which Mike Bryan posted online:

In other highlights from around the tour, the world's top ranked women's doubles team of Kastles superstar Martina Hingis and partner Sania Mirza recovered nicely from disappointing exits in Miami, Indian Wells and Doha when they finished as the runners-up at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany.

Hingis and partner Mirza fell just short in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo: Porsche-Tennis.com)

The No.1 seeds Hingis and Mirza rolled through the draw without dropping a set before falling in a tough final to the No.2 seeded team of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic, 2-6, 6-1, 6-10. In the semis, the team faced a tough test against the tough team of Sabine Lisicki and Lucie Safarova, winning that match 6-4, 7-5.

It was the first clay court tournament of the season for Hingis and Mirza, who hope to regain the dominant momentum they had for many months before heading into the French Open.

Coach Murphy Jensen Coming to D.C. This Weekend

Three-time WTT Coach of the Year Murphy Jensen will be conducting clinics at local tennis clubs in the DC area starting this weekend. The 1993 French Open Doubles Champion brings his 30-plus years of professional tennis experience as well as an infectious and upbeat attitude that has led to Kastles to historic heights during his tenure in D.C.

The clinics are a chance for fans to get up close and personal with the most accomplished coach in WTT history, as they receive world-class advice and run through pro drills with Coach Jensen. They're also a great way to learn how he led the Kastles to six championships and to hear him talk about how he will help the team on his quest for a seventh.

Coach Jensen at a clinic in 2015. (Photo: The Washington Kastles)

This weekend, Jensen has a slate of clinics starting from Thursday night of April 28 through Sunday, May 1 and will make appearances at the Anne Arundel County Tennis Association, Seven Locks Swim & Tennis, Aspen Hill Club, Mclean Sport & Health, Trump National, SportFit Bowie, YMCA Arlington & ACTA, Middleburg Tennis Club, Army Navy Country Club, and Montgomery Tennisplex.

If you aren't able to rally with the 1993 French Open doubles champion this time around, ask your local club director to call 202-4-TENNIS (483-6647) and request a clinic with Coach Murphy who will be back in a few weeks for more clinics!



World TeamTennis Stories from April 28, 2016


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