ATP World Tour Finals 2010: Doubles Semi-final Preview - Bryans versus Zimonjic/Nestor
Both the doubles semi final clashes of the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals will take place on Saturday, starting with the top seed pair of Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan versus Nenad Zimonjic and Daniel Nestor on the Centre Court. World number two side of
Nestor and Nenad leads their overall head to head series at 8-6, including a victory in the final at this competition back in 2008. However, Bryans enter the semi-final round with a 3-0 mark against them in 2010.
This could be the final encounter between the world’s top two teams, who have shared the elite eight team crown as well as the year end number one doubles rankings honours for the last two years on the tour. Both the pairs will be eager to have the final
say in their rivalry.
World number one Bryans, who own a lifetime mark of 21-9 in the season-ending tournament, are playing in the semi-finals on the sixth occasion in seven attempts. They are 4-1 in the final four clashes in London, losing the only time back in 2005 at the hands
of Llodra-Santoro. Bob Bryan along with his brother Mike Bryan captured the season finale title back in 2003, 2004 as well as last year. They were also runners up in Shanghai back in 2008.
The American twins won two of the three clashes in the round robin stage this week. They started their tournament’s campaign with a two setter victory over Jurgen-Philipp. The final match score was 6-3, 7-5. In their second round robin match, the pair suffered
a 2-6, 7-6, (4) 10-8 defeat at the hands of Matkowski-Fyrstenberg. They closed the round robin play with a two setter victory over Dlouhy-Paes with a score line of 6-3, 6-4.
The last year’s World Tour winners are the number one team on the sixth occasion in a row in the last eight years, highlighted by a final mark of 11-0 in 2010. They opened their 2010 campaign with a title victory at the year’s first Grand Slam, the Australian
Open in Melbourne. A month later, the 32-year-old Americans did well to successfully defend their trophy in Delray Beach, beating Marx-Zelenay in the finals in straight sets.
During the spring clay-court season, the number one tandem from United States of America continued their form and played some great tennis to win another title in Rome, thrashing out Nestor-Zimonjic in the finals. As a result of this victory, Bob Bryan and
Mike Bryan also tied the sixty one tour level title record of Woodbridge-Woodforde.
Their other season highlights include title victories in Los Angeles, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Toronto, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati, United States Open, Beijing, Basel, semi final showing in Shanghai and quarter final appearances in Wimbledon
and Washington.
Seeded second to win the title at the prestigious London event, Nestor and Zimonjic, on the other hand, hold a 8-3 mark in the season finale. The veteran Canadian-Serb duo is making their third straight appearance in London. They won the title here back
in 2008 after getting the better of Bryan Brothers in the final to finish number one. This week, the tandem has won two of their three round robin clashes.
They opened their account with a two setter win over Moodie-Norman on Monday. The final match score was 6-1, 6-2. In their next match, both the right-handers toppled Bhupathi-Mirnyi 7-6(5) 7-6(1), followed by a three setter loss to Kubot-March on Friday.
World number two team performed quite impressively throughout the year with a final mark of 6-4. They posted their best result of the season by winning titles in French Open, Monte Carlo, Sydney, Rotterdam, Barcelona, French Open and Vienna. Their other
season highlights include runner up efforts in Australian Open, Indian Wells, Madrid, Basel, semi final appearances in Queen’s club, Beijing and quarter final finishes in ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Toronto, New Haven and Shanghai.
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