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America’s Bob and Mike Bryan are out to add another piece of silverware to their already bursting trophy cabinet and break an Australian-held record in the process.
When they take to Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night for the men's doubles final, the duo will be gunning for Grand Slam title number 13.
If they’re successful in their quest, the Bryans will move past Aussie legends John Newcombe and Tony Roche on the list of most Grand Slams won.
“We’re super excited about it, but I mean we haven’t really been thinking about it too much when we’ve been playing here,” Mike said.
“It’s really cool to try and break such a huge record like that. To be that successful over such a long period of time, we wouldn’t have fathomed it when we started out.”
Having made eight of the past nine Australian Open finals, lifting the trophy in 2006, `07, `09, `10 and `11, it would be an understatement to say the twins feel at home at Melbourne Park.
“Most teams in the off season, they go their different ways but we stick together, we practise together and try to build momentum heading into these tournaments ... we’re always just eager at the start of the year, the bodies are fresh, minds are fresh," Mike said.
The No.1 seeds moved through to the final with a three-set 6-4 4-6 6-1 victory over Italian duo Simon Bolelli and Fabio Fognini in the semifinals on Thursday.
Despite conceding the second set, the world’s top pairing were gifted a break in the second game of the third on the back of consecutive double faults from the Bolelli racquet. They then stepped up the intensity, jumping on any loose groundstrokes at the net to run away with the se t 6-1.
Looking to deny the Bryans a record-breaking win will be Dutch duo Robin Haase and Igor Sijsling, who defeated third seeds Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 7-5 6-4 under sunny skies on Margaret Court Arena.
Despite being ranked 152 and 327 in world respectively, the big-hitting countrymen produced some great all-court tennis to upset their Spanish opponents.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen that guy (Sijsling). They play big doubles, they serve huge ... I kind of expected them to come through especially on a fast court,” Mike explained.
“They’ll be a challenge, it’s their first Grand Slam final, so hopefully, they’re nervous ... but I think they’ll rise to the occasion."