Bryans Not Deterred by Clouds at Home

Safely tucked away from a downpour, Bob and Mike Bryan stood under a large tent and watched the nearby tennis courts filling with puddles.

The twins, Stanford sophomores and former Rio Mesa High standouts, were hoping for some action Friday in the first round of the National Collegiate Tennis Classic at Sherwood Country Club.

But the latest storm to hit the Southland washed out those plans, leaving the Bryans with plenty of idle time.

“The best thing to do is relax and not worry about it,” Mike said. “We’ve played in tons of rain delays in our careers.”

The tournament, a gathering of the top eight men’s and women’s college teams in the nation, should provide a competitive but fun weekend for the twins.

Only a few miles from their home in Camarillo, the two expect to play in front of many relatives and friends today and Sunday, weather permitting.

After that, they’ll head to Palo Alto and prepare for their second season with the Cardinal, the defending NCAA champion and preseason favorite.

It could be another, er, smashing year for the Bryans.

After stamping an indelible mark on the junior tennis circuit, where they accumulated countless major victories, they are poised to build on the impact they already made at the college level.

“We both want to be top 10 in the nation [in singles] and one, two or three in doubles,” Bob said. “And we want to win the [NCAA] team championship. If you don’t win at Stanford, people think you are dogging it.”

Said Mike: “The women’s cross-country team got second [in the NCAA championships in November] and everyone [at Stanford] kind of hates them.”

The obvious exaggeration aside, the Bryans undoubtedly will feel additional pressure this season.

Bob, a 6-foot-3 left-hander, is top-ranked in college men’s singles in the preseason and Mike, a 6-2 3/4 right-hander, is ranked No. 11. The two All-Americans are ranked No. 7 in doubles.

Last season, Bob had a 40-5 singles record and was the Pacific 10 men’s champion, a title he is not expected to easily relinquish. Mike struggled with nagging injuries and was 23-5.

But despite their success, longtime Stanford Coach Dick Gould said the Bryans have their sneakers firmly planted on the ground.

“What impresses me more is not how well-schooled they’ve been in tennis, but how they’ve been schooled off the court,” said Gould, a Ventura High graduate. “You work with them and they always say, ‘Thanks coach.’ How often do you get that?”

The NCTC gives coaches an early season peek at their teams against solid competition but Gould need not worry whether the Bryans are match-ready. They’ve stayed active during the winter break from Stanford, mixing tennis with one of their hobbies, music.

In December, they jammed with their father, Wayne, and John and Patrick McEnroe in Boise, Idaho, after a benefit exhibition. Bob plays keyboards and Mike the drums.

“We had a good time,” Mike said.

Much like what they hope to enjoy today and Sunday if the clouds shut down.