With their EXO³ Ignite Team 95 racquets, which they switched to late last year, the 31-year old American twins are now just four titles away from reaching the all-time record, currently held by Australian greats Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde with 61.

“It feels great to come back to Melbourne and defend our title, capture another Grand Slam and take one step closer to the all-time title record,” said Bob Bryan.  ”It is exactly how we hoped to kick-off 2010.”

The Bryans decided late last year to make a switch in racquets in order to achieve more control while still getting the ‘pop’ they need on serves and ground strokes.  Their decision, after hitting only a few balls, was to pick up EXO³ technology and come down a bit in head size with the  EXO³ Ignite Team 95.

“It is crucial in doubles to keep return of serves low and we feel as though we have better ability to do that with the  EXO³ Ignite Team.  But while it gives us added control and maneuverability, we are still able to deliver the power and pace we need on our serves and balls hit from the baseline,” said Bob Bryan.  “It is just a fantastic all-court racquet and one of the things we loved instantly was the ‘clunk’ solid sound it makes upon ball strike.”

“The doubles game is getting better.  Teams are improving and strong singles players on tour are starting to learn how to play.  We need to continue to get better and evolve our game and without question we think we have improved since making the racquet switch.  It was important for me to be able to carve out some more angles at net and do more with short balls,” said Mike Bryan.

The switch has proved to be a smart move.  Aside from taking home the year’s first Grand Slam event, the Bryans executed a dramatic end to last season when for the fifth time, they ended the year as the world’s top team by winning the ATP Tour Doubles Finals in London.  They came into that tournament 800 points behind Nestor and  Zimonjic, but in the end, claimed the year-end No.1 ranking.

Even their father, coach Wayne Bryan, echoes Mike and Bob’s feelings about their new frames.  “The Bros. absolutely love them and say it has the best feel of any stick they have every played with – which really is a strong testament and says something special. And, they like the looks of it too. “

The Bryans are just two of more than 50 players on tour, including Nikolay Davydenko, Gael Monfils and Maria Sharapova among others, who are now taking advantage of Prince’s O-technology, a unique series of holes along the frame of the racquet.

More information on the Bryan Brothers, their  EXO³ Ignite Team 95 racquet, and all Prince players and products can be found at www.princetennis.com.

Yet, No. 2 seed Serena Williams just keeps winning, not even dropping a set this tournament with a 6-4, 6-3, win in the Quarterfinals over No 10 seed Flavia Pennetta.

“I’m always taking every opponent super-serious,” Williams said. “Flavia is clearly a good player, and I was definitely not underestimating her. I thought it was a really good match. You know, she also has a good spirit.”

Williams is of course being gracious, because Pennetta had no chance in this match. The one thing Williams has is power, which no opponent can compete with. She can pretty much blow away the competition, especially on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.

And she’s done just that. None of her matches were that close. In fact, Williams has a pretty boring show at this Open. How can you have drama, when one player is just so much better.

Yet, this could change on Thursday as Williams plays against Clijsters in the Semis. These two are very old rivals and also old friends, so the younger Williams sister is expecting a good match, even though Serena holds a 7-1 record over the Belgium Ace.

“Yeah, she’s a really good player,” Williams said. “She plays tough. She plays hard. Now it’s like a totally different level, because she has absolutely nothing to lose. I think that’s when you can play your ultimate best tennis.”

She also joked about how Clijsters is now faster after her pregnancy, but the fact remains, 7-1 is 7-1 and the only time Serena was beaten was on carpet.

And that’s the silent question no one wants to ask. Who can beat Serena. Even with Oudin’s great story, can she go toe to toe against Williams if they meet in the final. Can Wozniacki?

“I think [Oudin's] doing great,” Williams said. “I think she can even win her next match, seeing all the players she’s beaten.I think she actually should win. It’s been my joy watching her play. It’s been exciting, especially for American tennis.”

Sure, Williams likes the way Oudin plays, she has the same spirit as Serena and her success takes pressure off the 27 year-old three time Open Champion. If people are talking about Oudin, then they are not discussing Serena.

And that’s the way she likes it. For all the diva like activities that comes with Serena, she is still a heck of a tennis player. And as we have seen over these last nine days, if left alone, Williams will go quietly about her business.

Yet, the fact remains Williams is still the best out there and the odds on favorite to win the tournament. Right now, she is playing her best tennis of the year, and no one whose left can compete with her power.

Of course anything can happen; just look at Andy Murray.