Marcelo Melo has been named Man of the Year for Sports for GQ Brazil after a sensational year in which he won his first Grand Slam doubles title at the Roland Garros alongside Ivan Dodig from Croatia. They beat Mike and Bob Bryan 6-7 7-6 7-5 taking a re-match against the US twin brothers who beat them in the Wimbledon final in 2013. The Brazilian doubles player broke the dinasty of the Bryan brothers becoming the first player not named Bob or Mike Bryan to reach the Number 1 spot in the ATP doubles ranking since 12th September 2012.
Melo has followed in the footsteps of his illustrious compatriot Gustavo Guga Kuerten who won three Roland Garros singles titles in 1997, 2000 and 2001. Melo also won six doubles titles with three different players. Dodig and Melo won their second title in Acapulco and reached the semifinals at the Australian Open, at Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo with Dodig. Melo teamed up with Raven Klaasen to win two back-to-back titles in Tokyo and Shanghai. In Vienna Melo clinched another titles with another partner Lukas Kubot. The Brazilian-Polish team rallied from a set down to beat Jamie Murray and John Peers in three sets 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 10-8. Melo teamed up again with Dodig for the final tournaments of the year in Paris Bercy where they won a Masters 1000 title and at the ATP Finals in London where they reached the semifinals.
“Melo brought tennis into the spotlight again after Guga Kuerten retired in 2008”, wrote Brazilian GQ Magazine.
Melo and Kuerten have known for a long time. “I met Guga when I was still young. I used to hit some balls with him to help his recovery after his hip injury. It is very hard to do what he has done for the sport, in the same proportion, but I hope to do it”, said Melo.
Melo is bidding to win the Olympic gold medal on home soil with his compatriot Bruno Soares.
