Todd Woodbridge collected an ATP tour record 79th career doubles title yesterday when he partnered Jonas Bjorkman to a 7-6 (3), 7-5 win over American brothers Bob and Mike Bryan in the adidas International final.
Woodbridge ended last season at 78 doubles titles, tied for the Open era record with retired Dutchman Tom Okker. He won four doubles titles last year, including Wimbledon and the US Open, to overhaul second-place John McEnroe (77).
Sydney, the second tournament of his 17th season on the pro tour, was the perfect place to set the new mark, he said.
"It's a pretty special moment for me. I was nervous about today. I played pretty well and I'm happy," said Woodbridge, who closed the match on serve when Bob Bryan's forehand went long.
"It couldn't be a better script for us. I tied the record in Stockholm last year in Jonah's home town. To pass the record here in my home town is magnificent."
The Bryans had set point at 30-40 and a chance to level at one set apiece in the 10th game of the second but Bjorkman fired an ace to force deuce and then held for 5-5.
After breaking the Bryan serve in the 11th game, Woodbridge didn't drop a point in the last game as he captured the championship.
The 32-year-old Australian raised his arms triumphantly and then hugged his Swedish teammate in mid court. He waved at his wife, Natasha, and friends in the capacity crowd at the Sydney International Tennis Center.
"I've got to tell you, I'm a little happier and fulfilled than I thought I would be about today," he said. "I don't know what I expected, but it was a full house who knew what they were watching today, you know, the verge of breaking a record and seeing a part of tennis history.''
Woodbridge has 15 Grand Slam doubles titles, third on the all-time list behind fellow Australians John Newcombe (17) and Roy Emerson (16).
He said he was targeting Newcombe's doubles record, which includes Grand Slam titles before the Open era (pre-1968).
"I want to continue to win. I guess the next goal I'll set myself is owning the most Grand Slam titles. I have the most in the Open era, but in terms of Open era and combining Open and amateur, I'm still chasing Newk," Woodbridge said.
"He's one of the great Aussie champions that I admired as a young player. He's still got something on me that I can try to achieve."
Woodbridge and Bjorkman will be among the top four seeded pairs at the Australian Open next week.
Woodbridge won 61 of his 79 titles with compatriot Mark Woodforde, and together the Australians were ranked No. 1 at the end of the 1995, 1996 and 1997 seasons. The "Woodies" were the most successful doubles combination ever on tour, and won the doubles gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Woodbridge has won 12 titles with Bjorkman, including four majors, since Woodforde retired after the Sydney Olympics.
A dedicated doubles specialist since 2002, Woodbridge's best singles achievement was a Wimbledon semifinal appearance in 1997. He reached a career high No. 19 in the ATP singles entry rankings in the same season.
Winning so many doubles titles wasn't his original intention, so getting the record was more about satisfaction than relief.
"To be able to say that I won more than anybody in the history of doubles tennis is something I never began in my career to go after; but I got there, and I'm pretty happy with that," he said.
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