PARIS -- We would not begin to suggest that doubles and singles share an equal footing in the world of professional tennis, but ... Bob and Mike Bryan are on the verge of tying Roger Federer with their 17th Grand Slam title.
They took the first step Wednesday evening with a 7-6 (8), 6-2 first-round doubles victory against Yen-Hsun and Raven Klaasen.
The twins from Camarillo, California, are 37, but they maintain they can be effective players for another three or four years. Their 2015 results suggest it's true.
They are 21-7 this year and already have three titles to their credit: Delray Beach and the ATP Masters 1000 events in Miami and Monte Carlo. It was on the clay of Monte Carlo that they defeated the Italians Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini, the team that is actually ahead of them in the 2015 Race to London.
The last two times out, however, have been "a little lean," according to Bob.
After losing their first matches in both Madrid and Rome, the brothers did something they don't ordinarily do. Since they had a lot of free time -- and were getting on each other's nerves -- they invited a number of teams to play them in practice matches.
"Yeah," said Bob, "we played 12 or 13 practice sets. We're both playing mixed [doubles], so we're getting a lot of reps. Hopefully, we can get on a roll here."
The Italians are the No. 6 seed here at Roland Garros and could meet the Bryans in the semifinals. The No. 2-seeded team of Jack Sock and Vasek Pospisil won their first Grand Slam title together last year at Wimbledon, defeating the Bryans in a rousing five-set final. Just short of a year later, they could meet again in the French Open final.