Bryan brothers’ quest for doubles record has a special follower

Mark Woodforde isn’t stalking Bob and Mike Bryan. It just seems that way.

Woodforde is modest and his face reddens a little as he speaks of his record-setting doubles play, of the 61 titles he and his fellow Australian Todd Woodbridge won during 10 years of playing together until they retired in 2000. Woodforde is in L.A. to do some work for the Tennis Channel but mostly to be around if the Bryan twins from Camarillo win the doubles title Sunday at the Farmers Classic tournament at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.

“I want to be here on the court to shake their hands when they break the record,” Woodforde said. “I want to make sure it is a little bit of a big deal when they win No. 62.”

It seems a foregone conclusion that the 32-year-olds eventually will win their 62nd doubles title and surpass the record they co-hold with Woodforde and Woodbridge — “The Woodies,” as they are still known.

It’s taking awhile. The Bryans won their 61st title in Madrid in May. Since then, they’ve lost in the second round at the French Open and in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon — both major upsets.

On Monday, the brothers were practicing at UCLA in preparation for their opening-round match Wednesday night at the Farmers Classic against Mardy Fish and Mark Knowles.

They were also making plans for a local appearance by their band, The Bryan Brothers Band featuring lead singer David Baron, later that evening.

“What time is sound check?” Bob asked Mike. That’s not the question most doubles players ask of each other. Bob plays keyboard and Mike plays lead guitar and drums. “They’re really good,” Baron said.

So when Bob says they feel no pressure to break this tennis record, it’s hard not to believe him.

“I mean, we’re going to be playing another three or four years,” Bob Bryan said. “It’s not like we’re not pretty sure we’re going to get the record. But it would be nice if we could do it at home.”

Woodforde said that when he and Woodbridge broke the record of 57 doubles titles, which had been held by Americans John McEnroe and Peter Fleming as well as South Africans Bob Hewitt and Frew McMillan, “It happened at a tournament in Germany and there were maybe 100 people left in the stands and while it was emotional for us, it didn’t feel very special.

“Todd lives in Melbourne where his kids are in school, so he can’t be around as much,” Woodforde said, “but we both feel we’d like to be able to shake Bob and Mike’s hands when they get the record. We’d like to make it feel special because, really, it is.”

Woodforde gives the Bryans credit for keeping doubles in the eye of the public. Woodforde notes that while he and his partner would come up against some of the top players such as Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker, fewer and fewer top singles players enter the doubles draw any more.

“But because of their success and because of their personalities,” Woodforde said, “Bob and Mike have given doubles a following not just here in the United States but everywhere.”

There was a time when the brothers considered singles their top priority. But only briefly.

“We realized pretty quickly we could maybe be top 100 in singles,” Mike said, “but we could do something more in doubles. We both wanted to be Davis Cup players, play in the Olympics, and doubles was the way to go.”

The generations do bridge each other. The Woodies and the Bryans played four times, with the Woodies winning three of those. The last time the teams played, in 2000 at the Queen’s tournament in advance of Wimbledon, Woodbridge and Woodforde won, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4.

And Woodforde agrees with Bob Bryan. The brothers shouldn’t feel any pressure.

“I believe, yes, they will break the record,” Woodforde said. “I want to be there when they do.”

diane.pucin@latimes.com

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