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Aussie doubles star goes for record at Masters Cup
Houston, Nov 07: Australia`s Todd Woodbridge bids for a record 79th ATP doubles crown at the ATP Masters Cup where he and Sweden`s Jonas Bjorkman are among four duos contending for year-end top honours.
Houston, Nov 07: Australia's Todd Woodbridge bids for
a record 79th ATP doubles crown at the ATP Masters Cup where
he and Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman are among four duos contending
for year-end top honours.
The 32-year-old from Sydney matched Dutchman Tom Okker
for the all-time mark when he and Bjorkman, the reigning US
Open and Wimbledon champions, won the Stockholm Open last
month.
"Now I can look at getting the next," Woodbridge said ahead of the championship beginning later today.
Woodbridge and his former partner, Aussie Mark Woodforde, combined for 61 titles, 11 of them grand slams, before the "Woodies" broke up when Woodforde retired in 2000.
Woodbridge has 15 slam doubles titles while Bjorkman has six.
Woodbridge completed a career grand slam with Woodforde and lacks only the French Open to have one with Bjorkman. Woodbridge has pondered retirement but is still chasing championships. "The time will come when I'm starting to do mediocre in semi-finals, but while I'm still winning I would be crazy to retire," Woodbridge said after his US Open win. "Jonas and I have played well from the time we got together."
Bjorkman and Woodbridge were drawn into the red group with top-ranked Americans Mike and Bob Bryan, trying to become the first brothers to claim the year-end number one ranking.
India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi of Belarus are ranked second, just 24 points behind the Bryans, and pace the Blue Group, which also has the 2002 year-end champions, Canada's Daniel Nestor and Mark Knowles of Bahamas.
Woodbridge has been atop the year-end rankings six times, with Woodforde in 1992, 1995-1997 and 2000 plus with Bjorkman in 2001.
Bhupathi claimed the top spot in 1999 alongside compatriot Leander Paes. The Bryans have won four titles this year, including their first slam crown at the French Open. Bhupathi and Mirnyi have won five 2003 titles. Nestor and Knowles won six and lost to Llorda and Santoro in the Australian Open Final. Bureau Report
"Now I can look at getting the next," Woodbridge said ahead of the championship beginning later today.
Woodbridge and his former partner, Aussie Mark Woodforde, combined for 61 titles, 11 of them grand slams, before the "Woodies" broke up when Woodforde retired in 2000.
Woodbridge has 15 slam doubles titles while Bjorkman has six.
Woodbridge completed a career grand slam with Woodforde and lacks only the French Open to have one with Bjorkman. Woodbridge has pondered retirement but is still chasing championships. "The time will come when I'm starting to do mediocre in semi-finals, but while I'm still winning I would be crazy to retire," Woodbridge said after his US Open win. "Jonas and I have played well from the time we got together."
Bjorkman and Woodbridge were drawn into the red group with top-ranked Americans Mike and Bob Bryan, trying to become the first brothers to claim the year-end number one ranking.
India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi of Belarus are ranked second, just 24 points behind the Bryans, and pace the Blue Group, which also has the 2002 year-end champions, Canada's Daniel Nestor and Mark Knowles of Bahamas.
Woodbridge has been atop the year-end rankings six times, with Woodforde in 1992, 1995-1997 and 2000 plus with Bjorkman in 2001.
Bhupathi claimed the top spot in 1999 alongside compatriot Leander Paes. The Bryans have won four titles this year, including their first slam crown at the French Open. Bhupathi and Mirnyi have won five 2003 titles. Nestor and Knowles won six and lost to Llorda and Santoro in the Australian Open Final. Bureau Report