USA's Bryan brothers clinch year-end No. 1 in doubles

From staff reports

Mike and Bob Bryan of the USA have clinched the year-end No. 1 in doubles for a record eighth time.

Bob and Mike Bryan have clinched the doubles year-end No. 1 for a record eighth time
It's the fourth consecutive year they end the season at No. 1
The duo won the Olympic gold medal and the U.S. Open in another strong season

Americans Bob and Mike Bryan -- age 34 -- are still going strong.

The twins have clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking in doubles for a record eighth time. It's the fourth year in a row they have been No. 1.

And this latest achievement comes at the end of another big season:

They equaled the all-time record and set an Open era record for Grand Slam doubles titles, their 12th (tying John Newcombe and Tony Roche), when they won the U.S. Open crown. They added five ATP titles to their career record haul of 82 (Sydney, Monte-Carlo, Nice, Toronto and Beijing).
And they won the doubles gold medal at the London Olympics.

Bob said, "Finishing No. 1 is always our ultimate goal when we start any season and to achieve this again feels amazing. The quality of doubles continues to get tougher each year and it is an honor to finish ahead of so many strong teams.

"Winning the gold medal along with the U.S. Open made this past summer one of the most memorable times in our career. I want thank our coach, my family, and our fans for their incredible support. We look forward to heading back to Europe for Paris and London."

Mike added, "We will look back on 2012 with a lot of fond memories. Winning the Olympics and breaking the Woodies' record at the US Open were obviously the highlights, but finishing the year on top of the team race shows that our season as a whole was very successful and consistent. Our focus will now shift to performing our best at the Barclays ATP Tour World Finals and finishing the year strong."

ATP Executive Chairman & President, Brad Drewett, said, "Bob and Mike have once again set the standard for doubles on the ATP World Tour in 2012. Finishing the year as No. 1 is the ultimate achievement in our sport. The fact they have done this for a fourth consecutive year, and eighth time overall, says everything about these great champions. They are a credit to our sport and will undoubtedly go down among the greatest doubles teams in the history of the game."

Year-end No. 1s in doubles:

2012: Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan

2011: Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan

2010 : Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan

2009: Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan

2008: Daniel Nestor/Nenad Zimonjic

2007: Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan

2006: Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan

2005: Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan

2004: Mark Knowles/Daniel Nestor

2003: Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan

2002: Mark Knowles/Daniel Nestor

2001: Jonas Bjorkman/Todd Woodbridge

2000: Todd Woodbridge/Mark Woodforde

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