Prepare with Matt Ebden: “Discover enjoyable and delight within the technique of enhancing” | 16 August, 2024 | All Information | Information and Options | Information and Occasions

Doubles star Matt Ebden has loads of nice follow tales to share in our “Prepare with the Professionals” collection.

Perth, Australia, 16 August 2024 | Jackson Mansell

At age 36, the enduring Matt Ebden is reaching new heights in his profession.

The Perth athlete gained the Australian Open 2024 males’s doubles title alongside Indian Rohan Bopanna and shortly after rose to world No.1 within the ATP Tour doubles rankings.

The unforgettable yr grew to become even larger when Ebden teamed up with compatriot John Friends in Paris to scoop Australia’s first Olympic tennis gold medal since 1996.

The inspiring Ebden shares recommendation and remembers a few of his favorite follow reminiscences in our Prepare with the Professionals collection.

Do you will have a favorite time of day to follow?

Nothing too early, until I’m at house so I must get follow out of the best way so I can go to the seashore or spend the day with my little child boy who is 2 years outdated. Typically, not too early is right. I like to have the ability to get up, have a pleasant espresso and breakfast or brunch with my household then follow late morning or early afternoon.

Do your coaching periods look completely different now you’re specializing in doubles?

With doubles I don’t want to coach as lengthy, it’s not a lot about endurance and working to have the ability to final 5 units at Grand Slams. The main focus is extra on power, in addition to quick and sharp factors. Serving and explosive energy turns into much more vital.

Do you will have a favorite a part of your recreation to work on?

My serve and my forehand, in addition to my internet recreation and attacking actions, was what I based mostly my recreation round after I was enjoying singles. Now with doubles, it’s most likely simply my serve. It’s so vital in doubles.

Do you will have a least favorite a part of your recreation to work on?

I really can’t consider one. I take pleasure in attempting to grasp the artwork of tennis, so I like practising all kinds of various photographs and techniques.

Are you able to recall the primary skilled participant you had the chance to follow with?

I don’t know if it was the primary one ever, however the greatest one which involves thoughts is Lleyton Hewitt. I completed highschool in Perth after I was 17 and the Hopman Cup was at all times there. He was world No.1 on the time, and I used to be simply beginning on my journey, so I used to be a hitting companion on the occasion. He might see I used to be eager to coach the home down, so he requested me to heat him up for all of his matches. That was my first foray into hitting with a world-class athlete. The depth of Lleyton and Rochey (coach Tony Roche) on the courtroom is one thing I bear in mind properly. There was no respiration room. In the event you missed one or there was a winner, Rochey would already be feeding the subsequent ball in.

Who’ve been your favorite hitting companions on tour?

There’s been lots over the previous 15 years. Hitting with Roger Federer was at all times extremely particular. I bought to heat him up on the Australian Open after I was actually younger after which after I was prime 50 and nearer to his degree, we practised collectively lots. We each performed Hopman Cup in Perth a number of years in the past and spent per week coaching and enjoying follow units. It’s unbelievable what he can do with the ball, so it was at all times a pleasure to be on the courtroom with him and it impressed you to essentially raise your self. In the intervening time, I follow lots with my doubles companion, Rohan Bopanna. We follow collectively almost day-after-day after we’re at tournaments.

Are you able to recall any coaching periods if you had been significantly nervous?

The primary time I used to be referred to as as much as heat up Roger, was for his semifinal towards Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on the Aussie Open (in 2010). I bear in mind strolling on the courtroom and pondering ‘oh, I higher hit the ball properly’.

Is there anybody on tour you’d most wish to have the chance to hit towards?

Novak Djokovic. I’ve performed a number of occasions towards Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal. Roger, I’ve clearly practiced with lots and performed him a number of occasions too. So, I’ve bought to know these three massive guys very well and play them in singles. However I’ve by no means performed Novak in singles, we by no means crossed one another in a draw. I used to be meant to play him in doubles on the Paris Masters on the finish of 2023, however they needed to withdraw from our second-round match as his companion had a wrist damage. Then on the United Cup in Perth in January, we had been meant to play him within the combined doubles. However he didn’t find yourself enjoying as we’d already gained the tie.

Is there anybody from tennis historical past that you just’d most wish to follow with?

I’d positively wish to hit some balls with Andre Agassi. He was my favorite participant rising up and I modelled my two-handed backhand like him. I preferred the best way he performed and his story. Again within the 90s, I had a black-and-yellow Head tennis racquet like him. After I gained the Australian Open combined doubles title in 2013, he really introduced us with the trophy. In order that was a pleasant second.

What recommendation would you share with an aspiring participant eager to maximise their coaching periods?

You need to discover enjoyable and delight within the technique of enhancing or working in your recreation along with your coach. Folks may assume that tennis is simply forehands and backhands – however there’s a lot to work on. There are serves, second serves, second serve returns. There are slices, volleys, motion. There’s offense and protection. There are lots of of variables within the photographs we play, so that you’ve bought to be keen to work on the whole lot.

Lastly, for those who had 5 minutes remaining in a follow session and will do something you would like, what would you select?

Most likely some reflex volleys. The final couple of years since transitioning from singles to doubles, the reflex volleys have grow to be extremely vital.

> READ MORE: From our “Prepare with the professionals” collection

Discover your method to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!