Israeli doubles pair narrowly defeated 2-6, 6-3, 10-7 by the American twins.
By ALLON SINAIram ehrlich 224.88(photo credit: AP)
Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich's run at the Hamburg Masters was cut short Saturday night by the world's best doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan.
The Israelis, who are ranked No. 8 in the ATP Doubles Race and were seeded sixth at the $2.45 million tournament, came about as close as you could come without actually winning, falling 2-6, 6-3, 10-7 to the American twins in their 67-minute semifinal match.
Of the 116 points played, the Bryans won only four more than Ram and Erlich.
The Hamburg Masters concludes Ram and Erlich's preparations for the second Grand Slam of the year, the French Open at Roland Garros, which begins in Paris on May 28.
The Americans got off to a flying start Saturday on their way to a quick 3-0 lead. The Bryans had no problem wrapping up the first set five games later and seemed to be on their way to another straight-set win.
However, Ram and Erlich did not give up without a fight and raced to a 4-0 lead in the second set.
The Americans managed to get one break back, but a successful service game by the Israelis secured the set and the winner of the semifinal had to be decided on a match tiebreaker.
After splitting the first four points of the tiebreaker, the Bryans reeled off four straight points and took a commanding 6-2 lead.
Ram and Erlich prolonged the match slightly by saving three match points, but the Americans clinched their place in the final with their fourth match point and knocked the Israelis out of the tournament.
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store
