Tennis: Controversy reigns as world No 1 pairing exit

Bryan brothers Mike and Bob walk off court after their controversial loss. Photo / Nick Reed

The Bryan brothers might be the best ever doubles pairing but the sporting gods seem to frown upon them whenever they play in Auckland.

Twin brothers Mike and Bob are yet to manage a win in two visits to the Heineken Open, following yesterday's controversial first-round defeat to the Netherlands' Robin Haase and German Andre Begemann.

The number one-ranked US pair looked to be cruising after taking the first set, but lost the second before victory was snatched from their grasp following an incorrect line call late in the super tiebreak which left the identical twins and the centre court arena stunned.

The brothers were forced to continue at 9-9 but lost the next two points with Haase and Begemann going on to win the match 1-6 7-6(4) 11-9.

"That's the first time that's ever happened to us and it's probably going to be the last time," Bob said.

"What can we say, it's just kind of like lightning struck us a little bit. We're kind of shell-shocked.

"You live and die by the sword. We've won a lot of those close ones and it's just the name of the game."

Controversy reigned when the Bryans appeared to have won the match, when they converted a match point in the super tiebreak. They even celebrated with their trademark chest bump, before being called back to continue playing by umpire Kader Nouni.

Both the French official and line judge had seen Haase's shot as in, when it was clearly out.

"In our minds the match was finished. We were a bit confused because the umpire wouldn't give us an answer," said Mike.

"We kept asking was it in or out and he wouldn't tell us. He just kept referring to her like, 'she didn't call it' so we never got a true answer.

"But we've played tennis all over the world, that's the first time it's actually happened on match point and we've actually chest-bumped. For us it usually means the match is over."

The brothers lamented the over-reliance on Hawk-Eye ball-tracking technology in the modern game, and said the officials were caught out when they did not have the automated line-calling system to fall back on. "They are so used to relying on Hawk-Eye these days that they're kind of just cruising. He waited, he hesitated, and if you hesitate as an umpire then you're in a tough position to step up," said Bob.

"He forgot there wasn't Hawk-Eye and then it was too late and then he wouldn't give us an answer.

"The gods obviously didn't want us to be in Auckland. We'll move on to Melbourne and hopefully have some better luck."