The Bryan Brothers (#1 Doubles Team in the World) commit to play at the Countrywide Classic (7/07)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 24, 2007
WORLD’S NO. 1 DOUBLES TEAM, THE BRYAN BROTHERS,
COMMIT TO 81st COUNTRYWIDE CLASSIC, JULY 16-22, AT UCLA
Camarillo twins have won three times on their “home court”
LOS ANGELES – The five-time Grand Slam champion Southern California doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan has committed to the 81st Countrywide Classic, July 16-22, at the Los Angeles Tennis Center-UCLA. The Bryans join two-time Los Angeles champion Tommy Haas of Germany , Chilean star Fernando Gonzalez and Scottish teen sensation Andy Murray among the early commitments.
“We are delighted to have our own world champions, Bob and Mike, joining us again for the Countrywide Classic,” said Tournament Director Bob Kramer. “Their energy, prestige and success always lend a great deal of excitement to the draw.”
The Bryans , the world’s No. 1 doubles team three of the last four years, had their most match wins together (66) in 2006, when they won an ATP-high and personal best seven titles in 10 finals, including the Australian Open, Wimbledon and their third Los Angeles title (2001, 2004 and 2006). They have won at least five titles six consecutive years, including six this year. They own 39 ATP career singles titles as a team, tied for fifth on the all-time list, including five Grand Slams and seven ATP Masters Series crowns. The other Grand Slam titles were Roland Garros in 2003, the U.S. Open in 2005, and the Australian Open this year. They have won each Grand Slam event at least once. In 2005-06 they became the first team in the Open Era (since 1968) to reach the finals in seven consecutive Grand Slams. They also won seven titles in 2004, and helped the U.S. to their first Davis Cup final since 1997 by going 4-0. Their wins this year were at the Australian Open, Las Vegas , Miami , Houston , Monte Carlo and Hamburg .
"I don’t think we’re dominating like Roger (Federer),” Bob Bryan said after the twins’ Hamburg title. “That guy was losing just a couple of matches a year for the past three years. We’re just happy that we’re playing great tennis and we’re starting to find some of the form that we found last summer when we went on a long streak. We’ve been catching some breaks and we’re on a good run so far."
Stanford alums, the Bryans attract spectators with high-energy theatrics and chest-bumping celebrations. Left-hander Bob has a huge first serve and a world-class forehand while right-hander Mike has explosive returns. Off the court, Mike plays drums and Bob keyboard as part of the Bryan Bros. Band.
"We consider the Center Court at the Los Angeles Tennis Center our home court, “said Bob Bryan. “We’ve played on it so many times during our juniors and college days. It has great atmosphere and we get amazing fan support there and that’s probably why we’ve won the event three times."
Should they win the Countrywide Classic again this year, the Bryans would become the only tandem in the event’s 81-year history to win the title four times. The only other three-time winner is the legendary duo of Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall.
The Countrywide Classic features a 32-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles competition. The landmark Southern California ATP tournament is the longest running annual professional sporting event in Los Angeles , and offers total player compensation in excess of $1 million.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Countrywide Classic will be a part of the U.S. Open Series, the eight-week summer tennis season linking 10 major ATP and WTA Tour tournaments to the U.S. Open. Television viewership for the 2006 U.S. Open Series was a record 42 million.
With 63 tournaments in 30 countries, the ATP showcases the finest athletes competing in the world’s most exciting venues. From Australia to Europe and the Americas to Asia , the stars of the ATP Rankings and the top tandems in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race contend for prestigious titles at ATP Masters Series and other ATP tournaments. The season’s top eight singles players and doubles teams earn coveted berths at the elite Tennis Masters Cup, the circuit-ending championship held in China . For more information, please visit www.ATPtennis.com
Previous winners of the Countrywide Classic, whose history dates to 1927, include Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Michael Stich, Boris Becker, Richard Krajicek, Stefan Edberg, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Stan Smith, Arthur Ashe, Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Pancho Gonzalez, Jack Kramer, Bobby Riggs, Don Budge, Ellsworth Vines, Fred Perry and Bill Tilden.
Proceeds from the Countrywide Classic, held in conjunction with UCLA, benefit the grassroots programs of the non-profit Southern California Tennis Association (SCTA) and UCLA. The SCTA offers programs, leagues, and tournaments involving 300,000 juniors and 50,000 adults and seniors. Inquiries regarding tickets and information may be directed to the Countrywide Classic tournament office on the UCLA campus. For information, please call
About Countrywide Financial Corporation
Countrywide Financial Corporation is in its second year as title sponsor of the tournament. Founded in 1969, Countrywide is America’s #1 home loan lender as ranked for 2006 by Inside Mortgage Finance (Feb. 2, 2007) copyright 2007 – and is a member of the S&P 500 and Fortune 500. Countrywide, through its subsidiaries, provides mortgage banking and diversified financial services in domestic and international markets. Mortgage banking businesses include loan production and servicing principally through Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., which originates, purchases, securitizes, sells, and services residential loans. The company is headquartered in Calabasas , California and has a workforce of more than 55,000 individuals and over 1,000 offices worldwide. For more information about the company, visit Countrywide’s Web site at www.countrywide.com.
Contact: Toby Zwikel, Brener Zwikel & Associates, Inc.,
Rick Simon, Countrywide,
Bob Kramer, Countrywide Classic,