Clement and Llodra ©AELTC / G. Kirk

Defending champions and top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan were stripped of their Men’s Doubles title by France's Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra, who celebrated by throwing their shirts into the crowd.

The fourth seeds, competing in their first grand slam final together, played a near-flawless match to scoop a 6-7 (5-7) , 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory and become the first all-French pairing to reach and win the Wimbledon doubles finals in the Open Era.

It was a fairytale ending for the men who faced a match point against them in their second round contest with Amer Delic and Bobby Reynolds. That match was played over three days due to rain, but today - in glorious sunshine - the players needed just over two-and-a-half hours to pocket their first Grand Slam title together.

Both teams produced breathtaking tennis in a first set peppered with spectacular passing shots and volleys. Much to the delight of the crowd, predominantly in favour of the Americans, the brothers clinched the first set on a tie-break.

But the Frenchmen, who are best friends off the court, edged ahead in the second thanks to some sparkling winners hit by Llodra and they had soon squared the match at one set all. Outstanding tennis prevailed in the third but the fourth seeds managed to sneak a break, enabling them to creep ahead by two sets to one.

It wasn’t that the Bryans, who have five grand slam Men’s Doubles titles to their name, were playing badly. It’s just that their immaculate balls were, somehow, being answered by the French pair with even more vigour.

Controversy overshadowed the fourth set when the chair umpire Lars Graff deemed Bob Bryan had hit the net-tape with his racket following a reflex volley. TV replays showed he didn’t but the decision cost the brothers the point, game and break. With no further breaks, the title eventually passed to the French duo.

Llodra and Clement were visibly delighted with their win, throwing their tennis racquets and shirts into the crowd and then, caught up in the excitement, giving away most of the contents of their tennis bags.

Chuckles then rippled around Court One, as it became clear that Llodra had gone further than his partner and hadn't hung on to at least one spare shirt.

Not wanting to collect his trophy shirtless, he dashed over to the players' box on No.1 Court and his modesty was saved by Arnaud's brother Bruno, who took off his own shirt and handed it over, allowing the player to collect the trophy with his dignity in tact.

After the match Llodra joked about his generosity. “Seriously, I have to play next week a tournament in Newport. I have no more racquets now. I don’t know what I am doing now.” Clement quipped: “That’s a very big problem. He gave them mine too.”

Written by Helen Gilbert

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Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
Arnaud Clement
Michael Llodra

• Bryans Into Men's Doubles Final
• Bryans Storm Into Semi-Finals
• Bryans Too Strong For Brits