[divider style=”solid” color=”#cccccc” opacity=”0.5″ icon=”arrow-down” icon_color=”#666666″ icon_size=”15″ placement=”down”]
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-microphone”] Match Recap from Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the U.S. Davis Cup Team
Bryan Brothers end Davis Cup career with victory
In their final appearance repping the Stars & Stripes, Bob and Mike Bryan delivered a convincing Tie-clinching win over Sanjar Fayziev and Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan. And they got to do it in Hawaii. With a 25-5 career Davis Cup record together, the Bryans are now the most successful tandem in U.S. team history.
This is how it was supposed to end | Announcer Corner
Before this weekend’s Tie-clinching victory, Bob and Mike Bryan’s final Davis Cup match together happened 4-years-ago in Portland, Oregon. It was a bruising World Group Quarterfinal loss to Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig. With Team USA up 2-0, a win would have equaled another Tie-clinching victory for the Bryans. Instead, Bob and Mike fell 2-6 6-2 2-6 4-6. Then on Sunday, Isner fell in three to Cilic — Sock lost in four to Coric. Croatia completed the come-from-behind victory, carrying that momentum all the way to the Davis Cup Final.
Complete recap of 2016’s Quarterfinal loss to Croatia
Two years later – while Bob recovered from hip-replacement surgery – Captain Courier called-up Mike for Team USA’s World Group Semifinal…in Croatia. With Team USA down 0-2, Mike and Ryan Harrison delivered one of the finest doubles performances in team history. They kept the Tie alive, defeating Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic in a deciding-set tiebreak 75 76(6) 16 67(5) 76(5). Sam Querrey – known for his own Davis Cup heroics over the years – upset Maric Cilic to level it at 2-all. But Frances Tiafoe fell to Borna Coric in a 5-set thriller, and Team USA succumbed to the Croatians again. Croatia went on to capture its second Davis Cup title, 13-years after winning it’s first in 2005.
It should be noted – Croatia’s 2005 run to the title also came at the expense of Team USA, specifically Bob and Mike. During 2005’s World Group 1st-Round in Los Angeles, Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic handed the Bryans their first Davis Cup loss – before Ljubicic clinched victory with a 5-set win over Andy Roddick.
Needless to say, since 2005 Croatia has been the Davis Cup dagger in Bob and Mike’s back. Team USA went 0-4 against the Croatians during Bob and Mike’s 15-seasons. While the Bryans earned a doubles victory in 2009 World Group Quarterfinals, and Mike teamed with Ryan Harrison for a doubles win in 2018, the U.S. still lost both of those Ties.
Team USA’s most successful tandem | Announcer Corner
Bob and Mike share the record for most years played, after 15-seasons on Team USA’s roster. Their 25-5 record together makes the Bryan Brothers the most successful tandem in U.S. Davis Cup history. Meanwhile, Mike has played more Davis Cup Ties (33) than any other American in team history. Mike also owns the record for most U.S. Davis Cup wins (28), thanks to three additional victories with doubles partners Mardy Fish (2012, 2008) and Ryan Harrison (2018).
Mike and Mardy’s Tie-clinching win during 2012’s World Group 1st-Round remains one of Team USA’s most poignent victories. The day prior on clay in Fribourg, Switzerland – Mardy defeated Stan Wawrinka. John Isner upset Roger Federer. Mike and Mardy then sealed the upset, defeating Stan and Roger on Saturday.
While Mike has clinched eight Ties over the course his Davis Cup career – together he and Bob have clinched seven, including 2007’s triumph over Russia to capture Team USA’s 32nd Davis Cup title. Since 2003, Bob and Mike lifted Team USA to two Davis Cup Finals, earning perfect 4-0 records in both 2004 and 2007.
13-0 Away: On the road, the Bryans were unbeatable, earning a perfect 13-0 record on foreign soil. Nine of those matches were played on clay.
12-5 Home: All of Bob and Mike’s Davis Cup doubles losses happened in front of home crowds. Their first came versus Croatia in Los Angeles. Oddly enough, the Croatians also handed Bob and Mike their last loss 11-years-later in Portland, Oregon. Both were outdoor, hard-court Ties.
Team Perspetive: The U.S. Davis Cup Team went 20-11 with Bob on the roster, 21-13 with Mike.
Davis Cup Singles History | Announcer Corner
Early on in their careers, lefty Bob was often slated to play Singles during “dead rubbers.” In 2005, he made his Singles debut after Croatia clinched victory in Los Angeles, defeating Roko Karanusic in 3-sets. Over the years, Bob went 4-2 in Singles, while Mike retired from his solo Singles rubber against Stefan Koubek in 2008.
Not surprisingly, considering Bob and Mike’s intriguing history versus Croatia, Bob’s final Singles rubber was a repeat of his first — another deciding set victory over Roko Karanusic.
