Bryan brothers hit miracle lob to win doubles gold medal (PHOTO)
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan were on the precipice of their first gold medal, one point away from a win at the Olympics that would complete their career Slam, when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga smashed a volley at the net that was going to bounce into the stands for an easy winner. No sweat; the Bryans would still have three match points to win the --
Only the ball didn't go into the stands. Bob Bryan didn't give up on it and managed to chase it to the corner of Wimbledon's Centre Court. That was the easy part. Now he had to blindly flick it back over his head and somehow land it on the other side of the court in a position where it wouldn't be a meaty target for Tsonga and his French partner Michael Llodra.
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He did it. Bryan's miraculous shot saved the point for the twins. Four shots later, Llodra netted a shot and the United States had its first men's doubles gold in 24 years.
"It's a blur," Bob said of the point. "I remember I was in the corner, throwing up the lob, trying to get it in there somehow. I know we were up 6-2 in the breaker, but you lose that one and things start to get a little tight."
They never had to find out. Now they have a gold medal to go with their 11 Grand Slam titles.
"It's on top," Bob said of the Olympic victory. "This is the biggest win of our career."
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