Rohan Bopanna-Matthew Ebden duo storms into Australian Open men's doubles final

NEW DELHI: The Indo-Australian men's doubles pair of Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden secured their place in the championship clash after a thrilling semi-final encounter at the Australian Open on Thursday.

The second-seeded team defeated the unseeded duo of Tomas Machac and Zhizhen Zhang 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(10-7) in Melbourne.

This victory sets the stage for Bopanna, who is poised to become the oldest tennis player to achieve the World No. 1 ranking in men's doubles, to create more tennis history.



The 43-year-old Indian, alongside his Australian partner Ebden, showcased their resilience and skill throughout the encounter, overcoming a determined challenge from their opponents.

Bopanna and Ebden's path to the final has been marked by impressive performances, and their chemistry on the court has been a key factor in their success.

"On the circuit, we have played a lot of Super Tie Breaks, that gets us sharp. They (Machac and Zhang) return extremely well, we had to make sure we serve well and on spots. This partnership (with Ebden) has been good," Bopanna said after the match.

Asked about his success despite his age, Bopanna said, "A lot of stuff goes behind the scenes. A big team is part of me. I just made sure I stay focussed on what I need to do to get ready, that is mobility and recovery. I do not look to lift heavy, just do yoga. I feel that mental strength helps me."

Ebden said winning in front of the home fans is special.

"I could not be happier, winning before the home fans is special. These guys are super dangerous players. The doubles specialist against singles specialist is great (contest). It's good for the fans. We have been working hard together for years. One more match to go," he said.

The duo will now eagerly await the outcome of the second semifinal, where the Italian pair of Andrea Vavassori & Simone Bolelli will face off against the German pair of Yannick Hanfmann & Dominik Koepfer.


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