Three Australians – Matt Ebden, Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijikata – are competing on the ATP Finals in Italy this week.
Turin, Italy, 13 November 2023 | Leigh Rogers
For the primary time since 2005, three Australian gamers are contesting the doubles occasion on the prestigious ATP Finals.
Matt Ebden, who sits at a new career-high rating of world No.4 this week, is competing in Turin alongside Indian associate Rohan Bopanna.
Reigning Australian Open champions Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler additionally certified for the elite eight-team season-ending championships.
Nevertheless, their hopes of having fun with a title-winning run are off to a shaky begin, with each groups shedding their opening round-robin matches.
The reigning US Open champions, world No.11 Rajeev Ram and world No.12 Joe Salisbury, recorded a 6-3 6-4 win over Ebden and Bopanna in a rematch of their New York finale.
Whereas reigning Wimbledon champions, world No.3 Neal Skupski and world No.5 Wesley Koolhof, scored a 6-3 6-4 victory in opposition to Hijikata and Kubler.
“Sadly we didn’t get the win immediately, however I assumed there have been some facets of our match which we are able to construct off,” mentioned Kubler, who was contesting his first match since September.
“There’s nonetheless two extra matches, so trying ahead to that.”
Hijikata, who started the season ranked No.278, is the one participant aged beneath 30 to qualify for the doubles occasion at this yr’s ATP Finals.
The 22-year-old from Sydney, who’s presently ranked at a career-high world No.23, described the occasion’s environment as “fairly sick”.
“There’s a very good vibe across the match,” he mentioned. “(We’re) actually honoured to be part of it.”
Hijikata and Kubler’s subsequent match is in opposition to Ebden and Bopanna, which would be the first time Australians have confronted off in an ATP Finals doubles match since 1998.
Aussies in motion – ATP Finals
RESULTS
Males’s doubles, spherical robin
[2] Wesley Koolhof (NED)/Neal Skupski (GBR) d [8] Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Jason Kubler (AUS) 6-3 6-4
[6] Rajeev Ram (USA)/Joe Salisbury (GBR) d [3] Matt Ebden (AUS)/Rohan Bopanna (IND) 6-3 6-4
COMING UP
Males’s doubles, spherical robin
[3] Matt Ebden (AUS)/Rohan Bopanna (IND) v [8] Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Jason Kubler (AUS)
[3] Matt Ebden (AUS)/Rohan Bopanna (IND) v [2] Wesley Koolhof (NED)/Neal Skupski (GBR)
[8] Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Jason Kubler (AUS) v [6] Rajeev Ram (USA)/Joe Salisbury (GBR)
> VIEW: ATP Finals 2023 group standings
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