Bryans' Stretch of 76 Consecutive Grand Slams To End

Bob Bryan will take on a new role during this year's Roland Garros: coach.

The left-handed half of one of the all-time greatest doubles teams will miss the season's second Grand Slam, marking the first time since the 1999 Australian Open that a Grand Slam doubles draw won't feature the American twins.

Their streak of 76 consecutive Grand Slams will be snapped, but not by choice. Bob is still recovering from the right hip injury he suffered during the Mutua Madrid Open doubles final on 13 May. The Bryans retired down 3-5.

“We've played Slams before where we've been a little hurt and sick, and we've always been able to tough it out. This one I couldn't get on my feet,” Bob told ATPWorldTour.com.

Bryan Brothers At Grand Slams

He tried rehabbing his hip and set timelines for his return, but the deadlines kept coming and going, until he told his brother he wouldn't be making the trip to Paris, where they captured their first Grand Slam title in 2003 and won their second Roland Garros title in 2013.

“I couldn't physically get on the court,” Bob said.

Mike Bryan, however, will be in the Roland Garros doubles draw with longtime friend Sam Querrey, who will be Mike's seventh different partner during tour-level competition.

Playing Without Bob: Times Mike Bryan Has Played Without His Twin Brother

Years ago, in 2002, Mike won two ATP World Tour titles with people not named “Bob”: Nottingham with Mark Knowles, and Long Island with Mahesh Bhupathi. But this will be the first time he's played a Grand Slam with someone else.

“I don't know what to expect,” Mike Bryan told ATPWorldTour.com. “[Querrey] brings a lot of weapons to the table, he brings a lot firepower... I think it will be fun. We're really close.”

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The injury comes at a particularly unfortunate time for the 40-year-old Bryans, who have been rewinding the clock to their glory years. The two reached the BNP Paribas Open final in Indian Wells and won the Miami Open presented by Itau and Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters titles before having to retire in Madrid.

“It's been great to win big titles again. I feel like we're playing as well as any team out there right now. Hopefully this is not a big step back to our momentum. It's been a great run and I want to keep it going so I'm going to just do everything in my power to get back as soon as possible,” Bob said.

He plans to return in time for the Fever-Tree Championships at The Queen's Club, which begins 18 June. Bob will be watching his brother and Querrey and scouting opponents from his home in California. He sees the new squad making a deep run. “I think they can do some serious damage,” Bob said.

And if Mike wins it all with Querrey, Bob said, “He'll have a extra Slam.”

The twins currently have 116 tour-level team titles, including 38 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crowns and 16 Grand Slam titles.

The brothers have seen it happen in the past. Newly formed teams ride the honeymoon period and string together matches off their relationship high. It's not something they've had to think about in the past, but at this year's Roland Garros, everything will be different for the Bryans.

“Hopefully we can draw on some of that magic and just have fun. I think Sam plays his best when it's not too serious. I have no expectations. Obviously we're going to be floating around the draw, and we're going to be unseeded,” Mike said. “Who knows what will happen? I'm here, and I'm motivated to keep playing some good tennis without Bob and have a good run.”