NEW YORK(AP) Bob and Mike Bryan were doubly disappointed this week.
The top-ranked Americans were upset in the semifinals of the U.S. Open on Wednesday, falling 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6) to the No. 4 seeds, Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes. A day earlier, they had planned to release their new band's first album on iTunes, but that fell through, too.
At least the four songs were played in Arthur Ashe Stadium during the match.
``It was kind of hard to concentrate: I was listening to the songs on the changeovers, like, 'OK, I could've done a better fill there,''' Mike Bryan joked.
The Bryan Brothers Band Featuring David Baron has Bob on bass and keyboards and Mike on drums. Baron, a friend who is a singer and songwriter, is the lead vocalist and plays piano and guitar. They're working on a fifth, bonus track with Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray each singing a short verse.
The group rushed to wrap up the album, ``Let It Rip,'' so it could be released in time for the Open. They fell short on that goal - and on the goal of winning an eighth Grand Slam and third U.S. Open title.
Dlouhy and Paes, this year's French Open champs, had four match points in the third-set tiebreaker before the Bryans rallied to tie it at 6-6. But Dlouhy and Paes responded by winning the next two points to clinch the victory.
WILLIAMS WIN: The Chinese doubles team of Yan Zi and Zheng Jie figured out one way to make things a little closer against the Williams sisters.
``Hit it more to Venus,'' Yan said.
Nothing against her game, but when you lose 6-0, 6-0 to anyone, the way Yan and Zheng did to the Williamses a few months ago at Wimbledon, you've got to change something up.
Serena's game at net, she's so strong, so fast,'' Yan said.We knew we had to keep the ball away from her.''
That, plus the chance to meet the Williamses on hard court instead of grass, is what the Chinese credited their more successful showing at the U.S. Open.
Oh, it was still a loss. But only 7-5, 6-4 this time.
We played them very close,'' Zheng said.We were happy to get out there and keep playing'' for a while.
The teams exchanged four breaks over the first set before the Williamses got one final break at 5-all and served it out. They jumped ahead midway through the second and served that set out, as well.
On a day when America's other great doubles team, the Bryan brothers, lost in the semifinals in their quest for an eighth Grand Slam tournament title, the Williams sisters kept their quest for No. 10 on track.
Serena is also in the semifinals of the singles, with her match set for Friday.
It's good, because this is great practice for my singles,'' she said.I get to hit a lot of returns, have a lot of fun and it doesn't get any better than playing with Venus.''
STEPHENS' STORY: Sloane Stephens was relieved to be back swinging a racket Wednesday in the U.S. Open junior tournament.
She had left New York to attend the funeral of her father, 1988 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year John M. Stephens, in Louisiana on Tuesday, then flew back that night. On Wednesday, 16-year-old Sloane Stephens, who lives in San Pedro, Calif., beat Maryna Zanevska of Ukraine 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-2 in the second round of the girls' event.
Off the court, always, it's rough,'' she said.On the tennis court, focusing is pretty easy, but sometimes it kind of gets you when you have a mental lapse.''
It's only over the past couple of years that Sloane has gotten to know her father, who was divorced from Sloane's mother, Sybil Smith, when Sloane was young. John M. Stephens was killed last week after his pickup ran off a highway and struck some trees, authorities said.
``It's definitely hard to prepare for matches, because you want to play, but then you don't want to play, and you're kind of up and down,'' Sloane Stephens said.
She debated whether to leave the tournament to attend her father's funeral, and decided to go after a conversation with Melanie Oudin's coach, Brian de Villiers. He told Sloane Stephens he missed his own father's funeral and regretted it.
At Tuesday's funeral, Sloane Stephens got a chance to meet some of her nine siblings for the first time.
It was good to see them and say my goodbyes,'' she said.It was a good experience, and it was well worth it.''
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AP Sports Writers Howard Fendrich and Eddie Pells contributed to this report.