The NCAA News - News and Features

June 8, 1998

SEEING DOUBLE(S)...

Stanford twins trigger Cardinal sweep

After dropping a 4-0 decision to Stanford in the finals of the Division I Men's Tennis Championships, host Georgia may have felt like it was being hit with both barrels, but actually it was both Bryans that sent the Bulldogs home empty.

Stanford twins Bob and Mike Bryan helped the Cardinal clinch a fourth team title, then went on to sweep individual trophies in singles and doubles as well.

The team title was Stanford's 16th, the most for any team in the history of the tournament.

Stanford gained an immediate advantage in doubles and the Bryan brothers and Geoff Abrams gave the Cardinal three additional points in singles to shut out Georgia.

"I thought yesterday and today, we played two great teams (Mississippi State and Georgia) that were capable of beating us at any spot in the lineup," said Cardinal head coach Dick Gould. "When you play teams that come at you like Georgia did today, you can get blown out trying to wait for something to happen. I'm proud of the way we came out and played great tennis today."

Mike Bryan clinched the win by defeating Georgia's Hisham Hemeda in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, at No. 2 singles. Bob Bryan also was victorious in his No. 3 singles match, sweeping Steven Baldas in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4. At the No. 5 position, Abrams beat Georgia's Joey Pitts, 6-3, 6-0.

Bob Bryan went on to win the singles final and teamed with Mike to win the doubles title May 31. Stanford was the first team to sweep the three championship titles since the Cardinal accomplished the feat in 1992.

Bob Bryan beat teammate Paul Goldstein in the singles final, 6-3, 6-2. The last time the singles final pitted two players from the same team against each other was in 1985 when finalists from Georgia squared off.

"Paul is a great player," said Bryan. "I would favor him on any day that we are both fresh. His speed and quickness are his biggest strengths, but he was fatigued today. I didn't have as many three setters this week as he did. I played my best tennis to beat him."

Goldstein returned the praise.

"Bob was awesome today," Goldstein said. "He kept me off balance with his serve and put it all over the place. I hit well, but Bob had too many answers today. We practice together three or four times a week.

"This is the second time we played in a tournament. I was 13, and he was 11 ... I won that one."

The Bryan brothers won the doubles title over Kelly Gullett and Robert Lindstedt of Pepperdine, 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-4. The Bryans are the first brother tandem to win doubles since 1946 when Southern California's Bob and Tom Falkenburg won. The Bryans' victory marks the 12th for Stanford doubles players.

"Doubles mean so much to us, because we're twins, and we've been playing together all our lives," said Mike Bryan. "We haven't thought about the future. We haven't even had time to think. I definitely want to go back to Stanford. It's a great life out there, and I want to stay there as long as possible. I'm having the best time of my life."

"I haven't even started thinking about records," said Bob Bryan on winning all three titles. "I came here thinking about the team, because we had focused all season on that. Once I got past that part, and then got through the first round, I got incredible momentum."

In the team championship, doubles partners Goldstein and Ryan Wolters joined Abrams and Charles Hoeveler at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles to give Stanford the team doubles point.

"I never imagined winning four in a row," Goldstein said. "The camaraderie on this team is remarkable. Everybody has confidence in his teammates and confidence in himself. It is a great feeling being part of something so special."