NEW YORK: American twins Bob and Mike Bryan won the US Open men’s doubles crown for the second time when they squeezed past Indian-Czech duo Leander Paes and LukasDlouhy 7-6, 7-6 in the final on Friday.

The 30-year-old brothers clawed back from an early break in the opening set to snatch it in a tie breaker 7-5. The teams also traded breaks in the second set before again heading for a tiebreak.

Paes and Dlouhy had several chances to take the match into a third set but a combination of double faults and sharp volleys from the Bryans thwarted their attempts.

After a dumped volley into the net from 35-year-old Paes gave the Bryans match point, they clinched the tiebreak 12-10 when Dlouhy smacked a back hand service return wide. “This is unreal. Words can’t describe it. This feels as good as any win we have ever won. We love playing in New York,” Bob said in a courtside interview. Mike added: “Just a few points (made the difference). I have a lot of respect for Leander, Leander is a legend. And Lukas is an unbelievable player, he is going to win grand slams coming up,” he added.

The second seeds won their sixth overall men’s grand slam doubles title. They have also triumphed at Wimbledon, Roland Garros and also own a pair of Australian Open trophies. Despite losing Friday’s final, Paes enjoyed a successful run at Flushing Meadows which included the mixed doubles crown in partnership with Zimbabwe’s Cara Black. “I love playing in New York. New York rocks,” said Paes,the 2006 men’s doubles champion. “To play against the American boys, the Bryan brothers, is fantastic. You guys played great tennis today, played excellent stuff and came up with the good stuff. You guys are real champions,” he added.

US Open results (x denotes seed)

Women Singles Semifinals

Jelena Jankovic (SRB x2) bt Elena Dementieva (RUS x5) 6-4, 6-4; Serena Williams (USA x4) bt Dinara Safina (RUS x6) 6-3, 6-2.

Doubles Semifinals

Cara Black-Liezel Huber (ZIM/USA x1) bt Anabel Medina Garrigues-Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP x5) 6-1, 6-4.

Men Doubles Final

Bob Bryan-Mike Bryan (USA x2) bt Leander Paes-Lukas Dlouhy (IND/CZE x7) 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (12/10).