You know that scene from "The Matrix" when Cypher is pulling the plug on his Nebuchadnezzar shipmates and Switch, shaking her head in disbelief, says "not like this ... not like this?" That's how it felt after Wimbledon was canceled this week. Bad enough that the event was the best shot for Roger Federer and Serena Williams to add to their title collection, but the greatest men's doubles team of all time lost yet another opportunity to properly say goodbye.
In November, California natives Bob and Mike Bryan announced that the 2020 U.S. Open would be their last appearance on tour. And while U.S. players such as Andy Roddick and the Williams sisters have garnered more attention over the years, this dynamic 41-year-old American duo has won more matches, won more titles and spent more weeks at No. 1. Eventually every great has to say goodbye to the game they love, but not like this. Not with cancellations. And with each one, the farewell tour for the Bryans gets unfairly shorter. An abbreviation, mind you, that began at home with Indian Wells.
"We were looking forward to that one the most," said Mike, who was born two minutes before his brother in Camarillo. "So when that tournament fell, we were looking forward to Miami because Bob is a South Florida guy and then that thing dropped. Obviously it's the right decision, but it does sting not being able to thank our hometown fans one last time."
Which brings this question: Will they delay retirement so they can get a proper sendoff? Sure they're in a band, can do TV commentary or star on the senior tour if they like. Those options will always exist for them. The tour will not.
"We haven't decided," Bob said. "We had this rigorous plan for saying goodbye and riding the adrenaline from going out there one last time and getting our fill of the tour before transitioning into the next stage of our lives. Now it looks like we're not going to get most of that fill. What are we going to do if the whole thing gets canned? We did have some stuff we wanted to do on tour and our bodies are feeling good right now, but who knows? A year can make a big difference."
