Did Florida Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov help the Bryan Brothers win at Wimbledon?

Bob and Mike Bryan made history yet again at Wimbledon, winning their fourth consecutive Legends Doubles title on the grass of the All England Club. But this year’s run came with a twist: a special hit with Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov that turned heads—and maybe even helped the Bryans find their groove.

“Barkov’s a stud,” Bob said. “My family’s had so much fun watching him play for the Panthers, and it’s been a thrill seeing them lift the Stanley Cup two years in a row.” Barkov also had similar admiration for the Bryan brothers. “I played with them and it was a lot of fun!” Barkov said. “Loved it and enjoyed hitting balls with some legends!”

Photo courtesy of The Bryan Brothers.

“He’s a hell of a tennis player,” Bob added. “He played when he was young—his strokes and technique are rock solid. He could literally warm up any pro out here if they needed the hit.”

As for the Bryans, they once again proved that even in retirement, their instincts, hands, and chemistry are still unmatched. “It gets harder every year,” Bob said. “The bodies held up, though, and we had a lot of fun this week.” There’s a special kind of joy at Wimbledon during the Legends events. For fans and players alike, it’s part reunion, part show, and part serious tennis.

Photo courtesy of Greg Sharko.

“We got to play on these beautiful courts with a ton of legends,” he added. “The tennis was actually pretty high-level.” From the footwork to the feel, the Bryans didn’t miss a beat—and the crowd knew it. “We got over the line, and we got to hold up the trophy again—which is always special.”

“There were a lot of smiles in the crowd, and a lot of smiles on the court,” Bob said, summing up a week filled with big moments and good vibes. And with Barkov bringing serious pace and energy to that early hit, the Bryan Brothers may just have found the perfect warm-up partner to kick off another Wimbledon run.

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Written by Florida Tennis Assistant Editor Alex Binstok. Interview/quotes courtesy of Florida Tennis friend Greg Sharko. Top photo courtesy of the Bryan Brothers.