For a short moment they really become one. When the Bryan brothers celebrate a game point, they jump into the air frontally towards each other and quasi clap each other with their bellies. Then they look like Siamese twins whose bodies are connected in the middle.

Robert Charles and Michael Carl, called Bob and Mike, could not be joined more closely although they are "just" identical twins. Physically difficult to distinguish, on court they form a powerful unity which during the past years enjoyed the reputation of being invincible on the tennis court.

So far, the Bryans have collected 36 doubles titles, thereof five Grand Slam tournament titles. They secured their last Grand Slam title in January at the Australian Open.

It is the fourth time in a row that they will participate in the ARAG WORLD TEAM CUP and will probably extend their success rate of seven victories in nine matches.

So who else could have received the 2006 award "Team of the Year", awarded by the ATP players' association? However, the second prize seemed even more important to them – the fans voted them most favourite player-duo.

Other than their reputation, which they carried for a long time due to their permanent victories, the Bryans are no sterile, lifeless yet perfect duo. On the contrary, they live tennis with passion and joy, their weird sense of humour has almost become infamous on the Tour. But with their bond and their overwhelming ambition they do not only promote the tennis sport, but are, in particular, exemplary for the American team.

"For us they are something like a rock. It is a good feeling to have them around," says James Blake appreciatively and whimsically adds: "Each time, I was part of the team, they brought us the victory."

A joyful premonition regarding this year's ARAG ATP World Team Championship resonated in Blake's words who again confirmed his participation, just like Mardy Fish. No wonder that the Americans almost yearn for the Team World Cup in Dusseldorf since the US team is on a winning streak at the moment. Just like the German team, the US team just played its way among the four best nations in the Davis Cup.

Unlike some other nations, they got familiar with "team-spirit" very early. Blake and Fish both played tennis for a college team and later joined forces in the same practice group. They quickly became friends, both are golden boys who also do not mind having fun from time to time.

However, there were difficult strokes of fate, which were to direct their lives as well as their careers onto different paths, which joined them even closer together.

In 2004, Blake broke his cervical vertebra when he fell against the net pole and only barely escaped paralysis. A few weeks later his father Tom died of stomach cancer. Due to the high physical and emotional pressure, he contracted a virus which blocked a nerve. Blake's left half of the face was paralysed for several months.

But in 2005, he made his comeback and succeeded to break the Top 10 at the end of last year as the first Afro-American since Arthur Ashe. The hard times did not only change him physically (from Afro-locks to becoming bald), Blake has become much calmer and always behaves exemplary on court. Thus, in 2006 the ARAG ATP World Team Championship honoured him with the "ARAG Fair Play Trophy."

Although Fish was spared such terrible blows of fate, two wrist operations threw him off track in 2005. Like Blake, Fish fought his way back and climbed from rank no. 341 to the Top 50 at the beginning of 2006. For this massive effort, he was awarded the title "Comeback of the Year" by the ATP.

They have not lost their sense of fun, however they have learned what is important in life. And to be strong together.

-- Petra Philippsen