It's fitting on many levels that in the year the fans didn't come through the US Open's gates, neither did the legendary Bryan Brothers. For the first time in a quarter-century, Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, the twins from Camarillo, Calif., did not grace a US Open doubles draw with their presence.
It left some feeling more than a little nostalgic.
"They were always there for the fans and the sponsors," Pam Shriver, who formed one-half of the most formidable doubles duo of all-time with Martina Navratilova, told USOpen.org. "I just think they were all-around authentic, wonderful twins who obviously had such a talent."
In a year that has piled on worries and disrupted lives both inside and outside the sport at alarming rates, it has almost slipped under the radar that the Bryans got cheated out of a chance to be recognized for what they were for two-and-a-half decades–the glue of American men's tennis and the heart and soul of doubles. In a perfect world, throngs of fans would have crammed into the stands of whichever US Open court they were scheduled to play on, cheering on their choreographed switches, synchronized poaches and fiery fist-pumps.
Unfortunately, the pandemic had other ideas and 2020, the most ruthless of years, scored another gut-wrenching victory.
"Honestly, I wasn't ready for it," Serena Williams said of the Bryans' retirement earlier this week. "I knew it was going to come at some point, but, you know, I have been on tour with them our whole lives."
She's one of a multitude of current and former players, fans and pundits that feel the same way.
"Obviously it's a shame that they've retired like this," said 2016 men's doubles champion Jamie Murray. "I think everyone was looking forward to seeing them play at the US Open one last time in a packed house, and that's what they deserved, more than anything."
Murray, also a three-time mixed doubles champion at the Open, holds the Bryans in the highest regard for their game, and the contributions they've made to the sport.
"They've obviously been amazing tennis players, an amazing doubles team, great people," he said. "They've been huge pioneers of the doubles game. For me growing up on the tour, [the Bryans] were doubles, basically. They promoted it so well and sold the product so well."
In an era characterized by a singles title drought for American men that now stretches 17 years, the Bryan twins were an oasis of excellence for fans of American men's tennis. After Andy Roddick's singles title in 2003, it wasn't always easy to count on American men to make noise on the hard courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. But the Bryans? They were as reliable as the late-August humidity that habitually smothers the grounds during week one.
Omnipresent, seemingly glued at the hip and always eager to "let it rip", the Bryans claimed five US Open titles together, and 16 major doubles team titles overall. But it was their love of and loyalty to country that made them more than just a doubles juggernaut. The Bryans unfailingly answered the bell for Team USA at Davis Cup, winning the title with Andy Roddick and James Blake in 2007, and they also took home an Olympic Gold medal at the London Games in 2012.
Raised in the fertile tennis mecca of Southern California by parents Wayne and Kathy, the Bryans eschewed singles competition and at times even refused to play against each other at junior events.
"I grew up with Bob and Mike here in Southern California—I mean I've known them since I was eight or maybe nine years old, and I saw them playing junior tournaments all around here," said 1997 US Open doubles and 1998 singles champion Lindsay Davenport. "It's just been remarkable to see their evolution and how they grew up. They always played for each other, and they're a very tight family. At all the local tournaments here in the juniors, they would default to each other all the time. They just didn't want to compete against each other and the priority was doubles. I could see that starting at like nine years old."
No matter where they were playing, or which team they were facing, they were a force to be reckoned with. This is not an understatement: we are talking about a team that held the No.1 ranking for a record 438 weeks. They were the team that everybody wanted to take down, and when the chips were down, the team that you never wanted to bet against.
"In terms of competing against them, for me, I always say that the most impressive thing about them was their ability to be in a peak performance state, match after match after match for 15, 20 years basically," Jamie Murray said. "To be No.1 for that amount of time, knowing that every time you step on the court that the other team is desperate to beat you more than any other team they're playing, and still to be so dominant, it's incredible."
One can get lost when stacking up their wins and counting up their records, but any conversation about the Bryans must begin and end with their warmth, their humanity and their deep respect for the integrity of the sport.
"I think they kept doubles on the map and relevant during the time of the Big Three, which wasn't easy," says Shriver who also highlights the Bryans' philanthropy, citing their foundation, which is dedicated to helping children in need in Southern California and across America. "Between them they were living a rich life off the court too, with their music, with their philanthropy, with their family life, always trying to push doubles a little bit further."
There was also that frantic, perpetual energy that characterized them on the court. Gentle and amiable off the court, tennis was war for Mike and Bob Bryan between the lines, and they were in it together.
"I think they had just great energy and the way they played their doubles was beautiful to watch," Shriver adds. "Since Roddick retired, they've really been the two highest-profile American players. It's been 17 years since any American male has won a major; during that time, they helped fill the gap. Even when they weren't winning majors, it seemed like they were in the finals or the semis a lot."
Doubles has a much higher profile today than it did before the Bryans came onto the scene, and it's largely due to their record-smashing careers, says fellow American Rajeev Ram.
"Obviously, they've been the most influential and important team that doubles has ever had," says the 2020 Australian Open men's doubles champion. "There was a time, maybe 10 or 15 years ago, when there was a possibility of not having doubles on tour at all, and the guys got together and really fought that—both on and off the court—and I think all the rest of us are really benefiting from their efforts. It's a big reason we have jobs today, because of what they did and what they brought to the game for 25 years."
Whether it was on court or off, on the biggest show court or the smallest side court, it is the enthusiasm for the sport and the passion with which they approached their livelihood which will be missed the most. Not only were the Bryan twins the greatest men's doubles team of all time, they were also down-to-earth, music-and-family loving twins who appreciated every opportunity to make a difference and put smiles on fans' faces.
"To become the greatest duo of all-time while still keeping that great excitement and energy, it's been a treat," said Davenport. "I've been on Olympic teams with them—they're amazing people. Their energy and their enthusiasm is going to be missed day-to-day on tour. I have high hopes that they'll still be involved in our sport. I'm also thrilled to see where they are personally; they've both never been happier. Bob has three kids and you see Mike now with his little baby—it's been pretty awesome."
