Third seeds Bob and Mike Bryan, the four-time former titlists at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals beat sixth seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo 7-6(3), 6-0 in 65 minutes on Sunday in the Group Edberg/Jarryd opener.
The Bryans were unable to convert four break point opportunities – on Dodig’s serve in the first game, and Melo’s first service game at 1-1 – in the 43-minute first set. Aggressive and deep returning on Dodig’s serve in the 22-minute second set ensured the first break for a 2-0 lead. The pressure continued to mount on the Croatian-Brazilian team as the American twins hit their spots on serve to guarantee routine service holds.
The Bryans have a 36-20 match record at the season finale, lifting titles in 2003 (d. Llodra-Santoro) and 2004 (d. W. Black-Ullyett) in Houston, in 2009 (d. Mirnyi-A. Ram) in Shanghai and 2014 in London (d. Dodig-Melo).
Dodig and Melo are competing at The O2 in London for the fourth straight year, but will play with new partners in the 2017 ATP World Tour season.
View practice schedule & watch live stream from practice courts