Bryan brothers claim bronze

BEIJING -- Bob and Mike Bryan earned their Olympic medal the hard way.After losing the first set, the Bryans turned back five break-point opportunities in the second set and rallied to beat Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra of France, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the men's doubles bronze-medal match Saturday night on Show Court 1 at the Olympic Green Tennis Center.The victory adds the first Olympic medal to a trophy case that already contains titles from all four Grand Slams, as well as a Davis Cup victory. And so the brothers from Camarillo were unrestrained in embracing their accomplishment, with an on-court celebration that saw them give away rackets, shirts and other items from their tennis bags."To beat a great team like that, who have given us a lot of trouble, it's really a big moment for us," said Bob Bryan. "I mean, we're feeling very proud of ourselves right now."Added Mike, "We're leaving China on a high. ... It's going to be something really special to have that medal back at home."Unlike most of the teams the Bryans faced in the Olympics, Clement and Llodra were not a makeshift combination. They not only play together regularly, but had defeated them in four of six meetings, including once in a Wimbledon final and once this year in Davis Cup, where the Bryans have historically been the closest thing to an automatic point for the U.S."We've had a lot of tough losses to these guys," said Mike. "... It's a little extra satisfying to beat this French team. We've seen them ... strip down to their underwear on the Centre Court at Wimbledon (after winning the 2007 doubles title). It's good in that respect to beat a great team like those guys, especially after a couple disappointments."Early on, it appeared the French team might be on its way to another celebration. They won the first set in just 32 minutes on the strength of a service break of Mike Bryan at love to go up 5-3, then had double break point against Bob Bryan in the first game of the second set.But the Bryans fought back to win that game, saved three other break-point opportunities, and eventually scored a break off Clements's serve in the fourth game that proved decisive.There was only one break opportunity for either team in the final set, and the Bryans converted on it, breaking Clement's serve to go up 4-3. Serve held the rest of the way with the Bryans getting match point in unconventional fashion -- a successful challenge of a Llodra return that was originally called in, but proved on review to be out."Crazy way to get match point," Mike said.Since their press conference was held before their bronze medal ceremony, they could only guess what the emotion of that moment would be like. "Maybe I'll be the one crying," said Bob, who had kidded coach Dave MacPherson when he teared up after the match.But they knew there was definitely some celebrating ahead -- briefly."We'll maybe go to a club tonight," said Bob, "party it up, pack our bags and head to New York."The U.S. Open, after all, is just eight days away. You can never win too many Grand Slams, but the Bryans have done that before.What they did Saturday night was something new, and special."We've been thinking about it all year," said Mike. "This was a huge priority of ours, to come here and play well."Said Bob, "I think everyone's played amazing this week. ... I don't think you really, truly understand what it's all about unless you're here."(Contact David Lassen of the Ventura County Star in California at dlassen(at)VenturaCountyStar.com.)