BOB and Mike Bryan’s hopes of becoming the first men’s doubles team since 1951 to claim a calendar year Grand Slam were shattered on Thursday (September 5) at the US Open by India’s Leander Paes and Czech Radek Stepanek.
The fourth seeds downed the top-seeded Americans 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-finals, ending the US brothers’ hopes of sweeping the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year.
The only men’s doubles duo to complete a calendar year Grand Slam remains the Australian pairing of Ken McGregor and Frank Sedgman in 1951.
“Realistically it will probably never happen,” said Mike Bryan as he reflected on a chance for history gone begging.
“The margins are just so fine in doubles. There are just too many great teams out there and too much can go wrong, and a lot has to go right to be in that position. So we gave it everything we had.”
Paes, 40, and 34-year-old Stepanek, who won the 2012 Australian Open, will face second-seeded Austrian Alexander Peya and Brazil’s Bruno Soares in Sunday (September 8)’s final.
“I have great respect for the Bryan boys. They are great ambassadors for US tennis,” said Paes, the winner of seven men’s doubles titles at the majors.
“But I have a great partner in Radek. He had spinal surgery this year and has fought his way back after a tough year. So when we play together we feel anything is possible.”
Stepanek, who was out for four months to recover from surgery, said he and Paes may develop a new celebration style in the final after showing off a well-synchronized ‘crab-dance’ on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday (September 5).
“It just felt natural to do it as we have a lot of fun on court. Maybe we will have something in the final,” he said.
The Bryans, who were defending champions, had already become the first pair to hold all four majors at the same time when they captured a third Wimbledon title in July.
They also completed a ‘Golden Bryan Slam’ by winning the London Olympics in 2012.
Bob Bryan admitted that they can still take consolation from their record of having all four majors at the same time.
“The media and everything shifted towards the calendar year Grand Slam. So it’s a never ending run of history and records, and there is always something on the horizon,” he said.
“What makes this sport so fun is there’s always the next goal. We’ll figure out what we’re going to focus on next, but we did give each other a hug and said, Great run.”
