Twin brothers and second seeded Men’s Doubles Team Bob and Mike Bryan have struck gold again. The bookmaker favorite and formidable American doubles team outplayed third seeded challengers Mahesh Bhupathi of India and Bahamian Mark Knowles in a fierce three set final 6-2, 5-7, 6-0. Spectators were left wondering what it takes to beat the American look-alikes. Bhupathi and Knowles threw everything they had at the twins, but the Americans beat back every salvo.

With the Williams sister’s dominance in the Women’s Doubles event, Americans have swept the doubles championships in Melbourne. Siblings seem to be the paring trend in doubles events. The Bryans have made a career and healthy livelihood of playing together. Now the proud possessors of seven Grand Slam Doubles titles and with seven runner-up finishes, there is no disputing the family’s dominance in Men’s Doubles.

Against Bhupathi and Knowles, the Bryans committed only 2 unforced errors and had no double faults. Statistically, the brothers were models of consistency. That consistency marks the key to their success. Individually, they are solid, but not outstanding, singles players, but together they are superlative, seemingly knowing their court positioning and shot selection without communicating. While quick hands help in Men’s Doubles, there is no substitute for proper shot selection and court positioning. The Bryans cut off angles and force teams to play to their strengths.

After breaking Bhupathi and Knowles in set one, the first set was sealed. The third seed rocked back on their heels until the beginning of the second set, where their play stabilized. Bhupathi made two sterling volleys to break Mike Bryan and even the sets at one each.

The Bryans had a mini-strategy session and came out forcefully for the pivotal third set. Well-placed returns kept the Bhupathi-Knowles team on the baseline as the Bryans won more than 60% of the receiving points in the final set to seal the championship and solidify their number one world ranking. At the outset of the Australian Open, bookmakers favored the Bryans and will certainly favor them at the French Open. With only the U.S. Open Doubles Championship under their belts in 2008, the American team was anxious to regain their form in Australia.

Bhupathi, who is also a mixed doubles finalist along with Sania Mirza at Melbourne, complimented the Bryans, declaring them the best doubles tam in the world. Like the rest of the field, Bhupathi and Knowles had no answers for the Bryans. The brothers lost only two sets in the tournament and were hardest pressed by American teammates Bobby Reynolds and Rajeey Ram in the round of sixteen. Reynolds and Ram pushed the Bryans to the limit in the 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 match.

While the Bryans never look over-powering, they always look smooth. The Australian Championship perfectly illustrates their balance coordination. These brothers know how to play together and once again appear to be the team to beat in Men’s Doubles.