Within the first ATP Finals doubles match between opposing Aussies since 1998, Matt Ebden and Indian associate Rohan Bopanna emerged triumphant.
Turin, Italy, 15 November 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Matt Ebden and Indian associate Rohan Bopanna have saved their hopes alive on the ATP Finals in Turin.
The third seeds scored their first round-robin win on the prestigious season-ending championships on Wednesday, beating the all-Australian pairing of Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler 6-4 6-4.
Ebden and Bopanna proved untouchable on serve within the 70-minute encounter, firing 12 aces and conceding a complete of solely 5 factors throughout their service video games.
“We improved from the primary match and it made a giant distinction,” Ebden mentioned.
“I believe we served near flawless and returned actually, rather well and gave ourselves numerous possibilities.”
The business-like efficiency helped Ebden win the first assembly between Australian doubles gamers on the ATP Finals in 25 years.
“They performed a bit too good for us at the moment,” Hijikata conceded. “They have been fairly sharp and served properly.”
It offers one other spotlight in a history-making week for the Aussie contenders.
That is the primary time in 36 years that three Australian gamers are making their ATP Finals debut in the identical yr, whereas 22-year-old Hijikata is the youngest doubles participant from any nation to qualify on the occasion in 28 years.
> READ: Hijikata rewrites historical past at ATP Finals
Ebden, who at present sits at a career-high rating of world No.4, is in competition too to assert the world No.1 rating this week.
The 35-year-old from Perth might rise to the highest of the ATP Tour rankings with a title-winning run.
“There’s so much on the road for each match,” Ebden mentioned. “A number of factors, some huge cash … there’s so much to play for.”
His fast focus, nevertheless, is now on their upcoming ultimate round-robin conflict with reigning Wimbledon champions, Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands and Brit Neal Skupski.
Victory is required for Ebden and Bopanna to progress to the semifinals.
The final Australian to achieve the semifinals on the ATP Finals was John Friends, when he captured the 2017 title alongside Finland’s Henri Kontinen.
Aussies in motion – ATP Finals
RESULTS
Males’s doubles, spherical robin
[3] Matt Ebden (AUS)/Rohan Bopanna (IND) d [8] Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Jason Kubler (AUS) 6-4 6-4
COMING UP
Males’s doubles, spherical robin
[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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