Bryans Battle Into Semis

Defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan withstood a tough test Friday at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters to reach the semi-finals.

The top seeds prevailed 6-4, 2-6, 10-4 over No. 5 seeds Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez. The Bryans were unable to save any of the three break points they faced, while their Spanish opponents saved 10 of their own 12 break points faced in the 73-minute match.

The Americans will continue their bid for a fifth title in Monte-Carlo when they face fourth seeds Marcin Matkowski and Nenad Zimonjic, who advanced to the final four with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Benoit Paire and Stan Wawrinka. The Polish/Serbian duo saved all three break points faced in the 51-minute victory.

Australian Open champions Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini prevailed 7-6(4), 6-2 over Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

The Italians saved eight of 10 break points faced in the 75-minute match to advance to the semi-finals. They next face second seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo, who beat seventh seeds Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares 6-3, 6-4 in 61 minutes.