By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich's successful 2005 season likely ended on Wednesday with a straight sets loss to the second-seeded Bryan brothers in the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters.
After keeping it close through the first eight games of the opening set, Bob and Mike Bryan took over and won eight of the final nine games.
The Israeli duo is now unable to climb to one of the top seven spots that will lead to the season-ending Masters Cup later this month in Shanghai.
Ram and Erlich will now come in eighth in the ATP Doubles Race, which under normal circumstances would be enough for a spot at the Masters. However this year the ATP granted a wildcard to Wimbledon champs Wesley Moodie and Stephen Huss, who are 12th in the race.
The Israelis may still travel to Shanghai as alternates in case another team withdraws for any reason.
Ram and Erlich would have likely been among the top seven had they played a full season. But they missed the French Open when Ram's father passed away before the start of the Grand Slam and then took a month off. That month caused them to lose out on valuable points from the clay court season in Europe, which would likely have given them what they needed to overtake Australians Paul Hanley.