Frenchmen Strip Doubles Title-Holders
http://www.wimbledon.org
Sunday, 8 July, 2007
Defending champions and top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan were stripped of
their Men’s Doubles title by France's Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra,
who celebrated by throwing their shirts into the crowd.
The fourth seeds, competing in their first grand slam final together,
played a near-flawless match to scoop a 6-7 (5-7) , 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory
and become the first all-French pairing to reach and win the Wimbledon
doubles finals in the Open Era.
It was a fairytale ending for the men who faced a match point against
them in their second round contest with Amer Delic and Bobby Reynolds.
That match was played over three days due to rain, but today - in glorious
sunshine - the players needed just over two-and-a-half hours to pocket their
first Grand Slam title together.
Both teams produced breathtaking tennis in a first set peppered with
spectacular passing shots and volleys. Much to the delight of the crowd,
predominantly in favour of the Americans, the brothers clinched the first
set on a tie-break.
But the Frenchmen, who are best friends off the court, edged ahead in the
second thanks to some sparkling winners hit by Llodra and they had soon
squared the match at one set all. Outstanding tennis prevailed in the
third but the fourth seeds managed to sneak a break, enabling them to
creep ahead by two sets to one.
It wasn’t that the Bryans, who have five grand slam Men’s Doubles
titles to their name, were playing badly. It’s just that their
immaculate balls were, somehow, being answered by the French pair with
even more vigour.
Controversy overshadowed the fourth set when the chair umpire Lars Graff
deemed Bob Bryan had hit the net-tape with his racket following a reflex
volley. TV replays showed he didn’t but the decision cost the brothers
the point, game and break. With no further breaks, the title eventually
passed to the French duo.
Llodra and Clement were visibly delighted with their win, throwing their
tennis racquets and shirts into the crowd and then, caught up in the
excitement, giving away most of the contents of their tennis bags.
Chuckles then rippled around Court One, as it became clear that Llodra
had gone further than his partner and hadn't hung on to at least one
spare shirt.
Not wanting to collect his trophy shirtless, he dashed over to the
players' box on No.1 Court and his modesty was saved by Arnaud's brother
Bruno, who took off his own shirt and handed it over, allowing the player
to collect the trophy with his dignity in tact.
After the match Llodra joked about his generosity. “Seriously, I have to
play next week a tournament in Newport. I have no more racquets now. I
don’t know what I am doing now.” Clement quipped: “That’s a very
big problem. He gave them mine too.”
Written by Helen Gilbert
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