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Bryans win on return in Delray Beach


 

Originally published on: 01/03/12 09:50

Bob and Mike Bryan returned to winning ways in their first match since losing the Australian Open final, defeating Jakko Nieminen and Viktor Troicki 7-6(4) 6-2 at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships.

The American twins took their winning streak at the tournament to nine matches, having won the title on their previous two visits in 2009 and 2010, after reuniting following the birth of Bob’s new baby daughter Micaela.

“We got to the finals of the Australian, lost a tough match and right when we stepped off the court my attention shifted to Michelle and the baby,” Bob told the ATP website, adding that his ensuing nerves soared far above those he ever experiences on court.

“When I was driving back from the hospital I was so nervous,” he admitted. “I was going like 30mph. I was like, ‘I gotta get this little precious piece of gold bullion back to the house’. Even carrying her I was so nervous.”

Bob’s daughter will make her debut on the circuit in the Californian desert, when the family travel to Indian Wells for the BNP Paribas Open – a tournament the 76-time ATP Tour titlists have never won. They reached the 2003 and 2006 finals, but lost to Wayne Ferreira and Yevgeny Kafelnikov and later Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor.

The Indian Wells event will also see the Bryan Brothers Band perform ahead of the evening matches. The brothers and former American Idol contest Michael Johns, who released their debut album ‘Let it Rip’ in 2009, will also take centre stage for the tournament’s ‘Champions Night’ on March 8.

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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.