Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan are closing in on equalling the all-time Grand Slam championship doubles titles’ record, currently held by Australia’s John Newcombe, who won 17 team majors during his career. The American twins are tied with Roy Emerson and Todd Woodbridge with 16 titles. The American twins booked a spot in their 30th major championship final (16-13) and 10th Australian Open title match (6-3) on Thursday after the third seeds hit 31 winners past Spaniards Pablo Carreno Busta and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in a 7-6(1), 6-3 victory over 90 minutes. The Bryans will now meet fourth seeds Henri Kontinen and John Peers in Saturday’s doubles final. Kontinen and Peers beat the Bryans 7-6(2), 6-4 in the semi-finals of the...
Fourth seeds Henri Kontinen and John Peers reached their first Grand Slam semi-final together on Wednesday night at the Australian Open as they defeated Sam Groth and Chris Guccione 7-5, 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena. Watch Highlights Kontinen and Peers, who finished 2016 with back-to-back titles at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris and the ATP Finals in London, are bidding to win their first major title. The Finnish/Australian duo has dropped only one set on their route through to the semi-finals, beating Groth and Guccione in 64 minutes with only nine points dropped on serve. Watch: Kontinen/Peers Visit St. Kilda Beach Peers is looking to reach his third Grand Slam final, having finished runner-up at Wimbledon and the US...
Rafael Nadal continues to grow in confidence. The ninth seed and 2009 champion reached his fifth Australian Open semi-final – and his first Grand Slam semi-final since 2014 Roland Garros – in stunning fashion on Wednesday night. Nadal avenged his recent loss to Milos Raonic, the third seed, at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp, with a 6-4, 7-6(7), 6-4 victory at Melbourne Park over the Canadian in two hours and 44 minutes. His 50th match win at the Grand Slam championship also helped him into the 24th major semi-final of his career. “It is good news - especially beating difficult players: [Gael] Monfils, [Alexander] Zverev and now Raonic," said Nadal. "I think all of them are top players. So...
Grigor Dimitrov extended his perfect record in 2017, proving that hard graft during the off-season pays off after reaching his first Grand Slam championship semi-final in three years. The Bulgarian No. 15 seed dominated No. 11 seed David Goffin of Belgium 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 over two hours and 12 minutes at the Australian Open on Wednesday, sealing his 10th win of the year with a backhand winner down the line. Dimitrov, who picked up his fifth ATP World Tour title at the recent Brisbane International presented by Suncorp (d. Nishikori) – his first for more than two-and-a-half years, later watched on television as Spanish ninth seed and 2009 titlist Rafael Nadal beat third-seeded Canadian Milos Raonic. [ALSO LIKE] “After the...
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan are one match away from reaching their 30th Grand Slam doubles championship final (16-13) and their 10th title match at the Australian Open (6-3). The third-seeded twins, who are bidding to lift their 17th major trophy, knocked out No. 9 seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcel Granollers 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-4 in two hours and 26 minutes for a place in the semi-finals. Dodig and Granollers hit 73 winners, but the Bryans held their nerve on serve. The Americans have an outstanding 112-54 record in tour-level finals. The Bryans go on to face Spaniards Pablo Carreno Busta and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, who had a battle to overcome Kiwis Alex Bolt and Bradley Mousley 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3 in two...