Bob and Mike Bryan dominated the world of doubles for years, setting a high bar for future generations to follow.
Turning professional in 1998, the ‘Bryan brothers’ enjoyed a legendary 22-year ATP Tour career, during which they won 119 titles together.
They were particularly successful at the Grand Slam level, winning 16 majors as a pairing (Australian Open – 6, French Open – 2, Wimbledon – 3, US Open – 5).
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When they retired from tennis in 2020, they did so as arguably the greatest doubles team in tennis history, leaving behind a remarkable legacy.
Speaking today, the Bryans have revealed what their relationship is like now that they are retired from tennis.
Mike Bryan says his relationship with Bob Bryan is ‘tighter’ than ever before
Appearing as guests on the ‘Served with Andy Roddick’ podcast, the Bryan brothers commented on the ups and downs of their relationship over the years.
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“We played for 23 years together, and we did stay together. Yeah, we had our moments, but we did it as a team and as brothers. That is what made that process on the Tour special,” said Mike Bryan.
“You have your best friend on the road doing it, and it wasn’t always high moments. I don’t know how many finals we lost (59); we had some really difficult ones. It’s a lot.
“But we stuck it out and just to be able to now share that beyond the court now and just reminisce.
“I feel like our relationship is tighter now than it’s ever been. We have kids and want them to play together.”
Mike Bryan proceeded to explain why he has no regrets over his tennis career, reflecting on the hard work he and his brother put in.
“Looking back, we went really hard and we have no regrets just because we did not take any vacations. Right after we came back from the World Tour Finals, we were back working out together in the gym,” he said.
“We were really professional and we set the bar really high and wrote down our goals every year and really went after them together.
“We had this shared energy, mission, and focus to do it and to help promote doubles, because doubles was suffering a bit during the middle of our career, so we wanted to make doubles bigger and have a platform there.
“But to make it through the mire of those ups and downs and stay strong with your twin, we have unconditional love for each other. So that is probably what I’m most proud about.”
Despite all their success, things didn’t always go swimmingly for the Bryan brothers, as they encountered a big problem in 2018.
At the 2018 Madrid Open, Bob Bryan injured his hip, requiring surgery that kept him out of action until the 2019 Australian Open.
During Bob Bryan’s injury lay-off, Mike Bryan partnered up with Jack Sock, as the pair won two Grand Slam titles together.
Bob Bryan has now revealed how he really felt watching his brother achieve Grand Slam success without him.
Bob Bryan admits it was ‘tough’ watching Mike Bryan win Grand Slams with Jack Sock
Seeing his brother win the 2018 Wimbledon and US Open titles with Sock was difficult for Bob Bryan, even if he was proud of his twin.
“I was proud of Mike when I was injured and had my hip replaced. I was proud Mike went out and he won a couple more Slams with Jack Sock,” said Bob Bryan.
“Did that hurt me to see him out there having success without me? For a moment, it did. It was tough when he was playing the Wimbledon final on TV. I was in the gym doing push-ups.
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“But at the end of the day, I was actually proud of him. That is a Bryan out there representing, and he took me back. I got my hip replaced, and then five months later, he took me back.
“He did not have to, but one of my greatest moments is coming back and defending that Miami Open title in my backyard with a metal hip and doing that with Mike.
“That was the one time I actually got a little misty-eyed out during that trophy ceremony.”
Winning their penultimate title together, the Bryan brothers defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas and Wesley Koolhof to retain their Miami Open crown in 2019.
It remains to be seen if we will ever see another doubles pairing quite like the Bryan brothers, but their resumes will certainly be tough to beat.
Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic are currently ranked number one in the world in doubles, but have won just one Grand Slam title together, at the French Open in 2024.
They’ll continue their search for a second major at the 2025 US Open, which begins on Sunday, August 24.