They say they're still pinching themselves to check it's all real... Bob and Mike Bryan tell us why they love Wimbledon.
What we love about Wimbledon: "What makes Wimbledon so special for us is the tradition, history, and the prestige. Every time we walk through those gates and step foot on those hallowed courts there is a very special feeling that comes over us. It is difficult to describe. It’s the silence, the history and act of taking the game back to its grass-court roots."
What advice do you have for a young boy or girl who dreams of playing at Wimbledon? "Set short-term goals and keep them in the forefront of your mind every day you’re out there training. If it is something you truly want you have to be incredibly disciplined and understand that you will have to make some sacrifices along the way. We made it through hard work, dedication, and a bit of luck. Once you get there, there is no better feeling."
See Bob and Mike Bryan's full profiles at wimbledon.com
How many bowls of strawberries and cream would you expect to eat during The Championships? "Countless. We stick to very strict nutrition plans all year, but for one reason or another the strawberries and cream get us every year. The strawberries are too good to have just one bowl."
Three words we would use to describe the crowds at Wimbledon: "Respectful, traditional, knowledgeable."
We would queue overnight to watch this fantasy match on Centre Court: "Rod Laver versus Roger Federer."
Henman Hill or Murray Mount? "Henman Hill. No disrespect to Andy but Tim was there first to claim it."
Our favourite outside court: "That would definitely be Court No.18. There is always an electric atmosphere out there with the crowd, press boxes, terrace, and the fact that anyone with a ground pass can gain access. We watched our good friend John Isner play a pretty special match out there a few years ago. It was unbelievable."
Our tips for a fan attending Wimbledon for the first time: "Get there early, walk the grounds, and pick up a match schedule so you can circle the matches you want to watch. You want to get a real sense of the sights and sounds before the day gets into full swing. Set aside some time in the day to visit the Wimbledon Shop and the strawberries and cream kiosks. Apart from that, if you are unable to pick up any Centre Court tickets, pick an outside court with a few good matches in a row and spend the afternoon enjoying some great tennis."
Our first memory of watching Wimbledon on television or in person: "Having grown up in a sports-loving family, our dad was always talking about baseball, tennis, basketball and golf. We don’t remember the first time we watched it on TV but Wimbledon was always in our minds as the most prestigious of all sporting events out there. From a young age it became a dream for us to play there and sometimes we still have to pinch ourselves when we realise how far we’ve come, and just how lucky we are."
Our Wimbledon highlight: "Winning our first Wimbledon title in 2006 would definitely be the highlight. We had a few difficult matches along the way, but we eventually got there. Of course growing up, your dream is always to win at Wimbledon, and achieving that goal was an incredible feeling and one that I don’t think either of us will ever forget. Seeing our names up on the champions board and gaining access to the historic Last Eight Club and the champions locker room are pretty cool benefits that come from being champions at the All England Club."
