© EPA / L Parnaby

Bob and Mike's 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory now means they will enter the history books as only the third doubles team (following Jacco Eltingh & Paul Haarhuis and Mark Woodforde & Todd Woodbridge) to have won all four major titles in the Open Era.

“It’s the most special of the titles. It was the last one,” said Mike. “We’ve been thinking about this Career Slam since we won the US Open and the Australian back to back. This was the last one to get and the one we’ve dreamed about our whole lives.”

Competing in a record seventh consecutive Grand Slam final, the number one seeds were looking to improve upon their performance at Wimbledon last year - where they lost in the final to Stephen Huss and Wesley Moodie - as well as fly the flag for the US after America's disappointing performances in the singles events.

However, the result was never really in doubt and despite a second set slip in concentration, the Americans made fairly easy work of this four set encounter.

The Americans gained the upper hand in the final after the French/Serbian pairing handed them the first set in just 24 minutes. The Bryans had appeared to have targeted 6ft 4ins Zimonjic as the weakness, and it worked. The Serbian looked unsettled and tense, frequently netting easy shoulder height volleys.

Whereas the Bryan brothers – dressed immaculately in matching shorts, shirts, shoes and rackets – held serve with ease, dropping just three points on serve in the first set, the sixth seeds, Santoro and Zimonjic looked overwhelmed by the big occasion, frequently being put under pressure by the energetic Bryan partnership’s excellent returns.

The number one seeds achieved the advantage in the sixth game, breaking Zimonjic’s serve to love after Santoro sprayed a forehand wide. Three games later Bob Bryan stepped up to serve for the opening set, taking it 6-3 after firing down two immaculate aces.

The first set loss served as a wake up call for Santoro and Zimonjic. After looking so ill at ease they gradually worked their way back into the match, finding some much-needed rhythm on their serves and applying a bit of pressure of their own on their opponents.

However, in the fifth game of the second set, it was a moment of brilliance from Bob Bryan that bought the Centre Court crowd to their feet. After a 15 shot rally, veteran Frenchman Santoro delicately drifted an angled volley into the tramlines and seemingly out of Bob’s reach. But the super-quick American did not give up the chase, curling a forehand winner around the net post at full stretch.

The remainder of the set went with serve until the tenth game. After making so many unforced errors, Zimonjic finally made amends by playing four consecutive brilliant points. A couple of good solid volleys, an unstoppable service return and a difficult smash winner forced Bob Bryan into dropping his serve and the set 3-6.

In an edgy and highly-competitive third set it was the top seeds who made the first breakthrough. At 4-4, 30-40 Zimonjic lost his service game after Santoro pushed an easy volley into the net. Bob Bryan immediately capitalised on the break, serving out the set to love, firing down a 130mph ace at set point.

Sensing their first Wimbledon title was near, the Bryans upped their game to another level, picking off angled volleys with ease and frequently fizzing returns down low at their bewildered opponents’ feet. The Americans achieved vital breaks in the fifth and seventh games, leaving Mike Bryan with the nerve-wracking job of serving for The Championship.

However, there was no wobble in sight. With three Championship points available, the Bryans needed just one after a powerful serve forced Santoro to spray a forehand long. Realising their place in the history books was now secured, a jubilant Mike Bryan jumped on his brother, and together they savoured their special victory.

Mike could not hide his excitement, saying: “I told Bob when I hugged him ‘We got them all, man, we got them all!’ It’s the best feeling in the world. It’s so hard to win one. To have all four, and they’ve happened so quick over the last two years, it’s pretty cool. Especially to share it with your twin brother.”