LOS ANGELES (AP)—Bob and Mike Bryan won their record 62nd career doubles title on the ATP Tour on Sunday.
The twin brothers defeated American Eric Butorac and Jean-Julien Rojer of Netherlands Antilles 6-7 (8-6), 6-2 (10-7) in the Farmers Classic, the Bryans’ 100th career final.
They had been tied with Hall of Famers Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde of Australia, who won 61 titles.
“The Woodies put a record way out there. Sixty-one was Mount Everest when we started,” Mike Bryan said. “We love what we do. To get this, one of their many records, is special.”
Woodforde was on hand to congratulate the brothers.
“For many, many years you’ve been traveling in elite company. Thanks to the victory today you’re in rarefied air. You guys stand together as one,” he said. “I know this 62nd victory has been waiting since May. Our run sort of ended because I elected to retire, but I know you two will continue for years to come. The floodgates will open entirely, so I know 70, 80 will come.”
The Bryans won their sixth title in the tournament at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on the UCLA campus, not far from their hometown of Camarillo in Ventura County.
It was their 16th consecutive match win in the Farmers Classic. Mike jumped into Bob’s arms to celebrate in front of several family members, including parents Wayne and Kathy.
“We really looked up to the Woodies,” Bob said. “They didn’t have the power and big serves, but they had the poaching and the technique. To share this record with my brother is everything.”
There were no service breaks in the first set, when the Bryans blew two leads in the tiebreaker. Butorac and Rojer won the final three points to take the tiebreaker.
The Bryans rallied to win the second set, which featured five service breaks.
In the match tiebreak—the first to 10 points with a two-point margin wins — the Bryans raced to a 5-0 lead as fans chanted for them. Butorac and Rojer twice tied it, the last at 7-all, before the brothers won the final three points to make history.
Butorac and Rojer, who played college tennis at UCLA, were playing their first final together.