Bryans break Grand Slam men's doubles record

   It was ironic, but not surprising, that the record came in Australia.
   Top-seeded Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States dominated unseeded Dutchmen Robin Haase and Igor Sijsling 6-3, 6-4 Saturday at the Australian Open in Melbourne for their 13th Grand Slam men's doubles title. That broke the mark of Australian legends John Newcombe and Tony Roche (1965-76).
   The Bryans, 34-year-old identical twins and former Stanford All-Americans, have won six men's doubles titles at the Australian Open, four at the U.S. Open, two at Wimbledon and one at the French Open. They were playing in their ninth Australian Open final in 10 years, and their crowns there have come in eight years.
   "To be a part of history is pretty special," Mike Bryan told reporters. "We weren't thinking about it much out there, but now that we have it, it's going to be fun to look back on our career and say we have the most Grand Slams."
   Meanwhile, the Sacramento Capitals of World TeamTennis announced on Thursday that the Bryans' father, Wayne, will return for his 12th season as coach.
   "We like Wayne because he is a great promoter for the sport," Capitals general manager Kolleen McNamee said in a news release. "In addition to being an experienced and accomplished coach, he is able to do things that other coaches aren't able to bring to the table." 
   Bryan, who will turn 66 on Feb. 19, has been named the WTT Coach of the Year three times (2004-06) and has led Sacramento to two of its record six WTT titles (2002 and 2007). The Capitals fell just short of their seventh crown last September, losing 20-19 to the Washington Kastles in the WTT Finals in Charleston, S.C.
   "I still haven't gotten over that match," Bryan said in the release.
   The Capitals' schedule and roster for the 2013 season will be announced in early March. Bryan said there's a good chance that 22nd-ranked Sam Querrey, a San Francisco native who competed in six of Sacramento's 16 matches in his first season with the team last year, will play full-time.
   The coach also hopes that longtime Capital Mark Knowles, a three-time WTT Male MVP (2001, 2005 and 2007), will return. The 41-year-old Knowles, formerly No. 1 in the world in men's doubles, retired from the regular circuit last year.