FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2009

LOS ANGELES - Four-time LA Tennis Open Presented by Farmers Insurance Group doubles champions Bob and Mike Bryan will return to the tournament this year. After missing the 2008 event while earning a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, the Bryans come back to LA in search of their third straight title at the tournament and fifth overall.

In addition to playing during the tournament, the Bryans will be busy off court during the week. Among their non-match appearances will be a headlining role in Kids Day along with their father Wayne on Thursday, July 30.

"We are very excited to welcome back Bob and Mike to the tournament," said Tournament Director Bob Kramer. "They are a crowd favorite here in LA, and they were missed last year. We've had a great deal of success showcasing them for our Doubles Night, and hope that continues this year. Bob and Mike are great champions on and off the court, and we cannot wait to see them again."

The Bryans are the No. 1 team on the ATP World Tour, and have posted a 37-10 record in 2009, winning four titles and reaching the finals at two other events. Of the 53 career titles they've won, seven have come at Grand Slams, including this year's Australian Open.

The Bryan twins have won the LA title in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2008. They are 18-6 all-time at the tournament, and will enter this year's event with an eight-match winning streak in LA.

The 83rd annual LA Tennis Open Presented by Farmers Insurance Group will be held July 27 - August 2, 2009 at the LA Tennis Center on UCLA's campus in Westwood. ESPN2 will broadcast eight hours of live television coverage this year, including singles quarterfinal, semifinal and championship matches. Tennis Channel will again provide additional broadcast coverage.

French Open semifinalist Fernando Gonzalez leads the 28-player singles field. Joining the Chilean are former champions Tommy Haas (2004 and 2006), Radek Stepanek (2007), two-time Grand Slam winner Marat Safin, 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis, and Americans Mardy Fish and Sam Querrey.

In addition, the 2009 tournament will feature a special exhibition match on opening night, called the "Millennium Challenge" that will feature Safin against Pete Sampras in a rematch of the 2000 US Open that was won by the Russian. In addition, former champions Michael Chang, Jim Courier and Stefan Edberg will take part in legends matches during the week.