Bryan brothers eager for another shot at Olympics
Source: Agencies |
March 3, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Bob Bryan recently became a father, twin brother Mike is engaged, and the pair are almost old enough for the senior tour. Tennis does have a clock, and the sport's most successful doubles team concedes time is running short to win an Olympic gold medal.
Bryan-Bryan are ranked No. 1 and plan to compete in the games for a third time this year in London. They were shut out in Athens, then took the bronze four years ago in Beijing, and they're grateful for another chance.
Mike turns 34 next month, while Bob is two minutes younger, and they said it's unlikely they'll make it to the 2016 Games in Brazil.
"We can't plan on playing Rio," Bob said. "That's a long way off," Mike said. "We'll be 38. Bob will probably have three kids by then."
Their personal lives have changed dramatically in recent months. Mike plans to marry in November, and he became a first-time uncle in January when Bob and his wife had a daughter, Micaela.
"In our 20s, nothing would come between our career," Bob said. "We wouldn't change our schedule to fly home to see our girlfriend.
"That doesn't mean we still don't hate to lose. We still don't sleep for three days after a loss. But having a baby and Mike being engaged has put stuff in perspective. It feels like you're working out here for a bigger team."
The Bryans said their frame of mind going into the Olympics will be much different than four years ago.
"It takes a lot of pressure off us, knowing we have that medal in the trophy case," Bob said. "We'll have the same kind of enthusiasm, but there won't be that same kind of burn that we don't have a medal. We'd obviously love to get the gold, but winning the bronze took away a lot of the bitterness."
Bryan-Bryan are ranked No. 1 and plan to compete in the games for a third time this year in London. They were shut out in Athens, then took the bronze four years ago in Beijing, and they're grateful for another chance.
Mike turns 34 next month, while Bob is two minutes younger, and they said it's unlikely they'll make it to the 2016 Games in Brazil.
"We can't plan on playing Rio," Bob said. "That's a long way off," Mike said. "We'll be 38. Bob will probably have three kids by then."
Their personal lives have changed dramatically in recent months. Mike plans to marry in November, and he became a first-time uncle in January when Bob and his wife had a daughter, Micaela.
"In our 20s, nothing would come between our career," Bob said. "We wouldn't change our schedule to fly home to see our girlfriend.
"That doesn't mean we still don't hate to lose. We still don't sleep for three days after a loss. But having a baby and Mike being engaged has put stuff in perspective. It feels like you're working out here for a bigger team."
The Bryans said their frame of mind going into the Olympics will be much different than four years ago.
"It takes a lot of pressure off us, knowing we have that medal in the trophy case," Bob said. "We'll have the same kind of enthusiasm, but there won't be that same kind of burn that we don't have a medal. We'd obviously love to get the gold, but winning the bronze took away a lot of the bitterness."
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