Tennis Doubles GOATs Bryan Brothers say: Loyalty trumps winning
While debates over the greatest tennis singles player of all time can rage on without end, the GOAT of tennis doubles belongs to identical twins born a few minutes apart named Mike and Bob Bryan – better known to tennis fans as The Bryan Brothers.
When they retired from professional tennis in 2020, they held 118 doubles titles and 16 grand slam doubles championships. They spent 439 weeks ranked #1 in the world, which doubled the streak of any other duo. And while singles tennis tends to capture the popular imagination more than doubles, the brothers’ infectious energy on the court earned them the ATP Tour “fan favorites” for 13 consecutive years.
These charismatic geniuses of the court valued their relationship more than winning, offering a fitting lesson for any leader who knows that how you react to your teammates when you lose can determine how well you improve to win the next time.
“We had extreme loyalty towards each other, which gave us the freedom to make mistakes,” noted Bob in the podcast. “In a corporate setting, it’s up to the team leader to mediate that dynamic and create an environment where everyone feels they have the freedom to have a bad spell.”
In this episode, tennis buffs and business leaders alike will learn how they can put a little topspin on their competitive mindset.
“I always felt like we improved with our losses,” said Mike. “In doubles tennis, you’re both equal partners, but a great coach or leader of any team should be able to prevent little feuds arising between teammates. You have to be able to speak truth to each other, but with empathy.”
You will learn:
- 5:00 How to measure character.
- 12:00 What their legendary Stanford coach Dick Gould taught the Bryans about “respecting your competition and always having a game plan,” even when you think you are more talented.
- 21:00 The hilarious journey to winning Wimbledon 2006.
- 24:00 Why the brothers’ greatest runs often came after their most “heartbreaking defeats.”
- 26:00 They key to critiquing your opponent.
- 35:00 How the Bryans helped save doubles from being removed from tournament play.
Resources:
- Follow the Bryan brothers on Twitter.
