Bopanna and Ebden Reach Miami Open Semifinals, Secure Olympic Qualification

Indian tennis legend Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden have continued their impressive run in the men's doubles circuit, reaching the semifinals of the Miami Open. The duo's victory over Dutch-Australian pair Sem Verbeek and John-Patrick Smith in the quarterfinals has secured their place in the last four.

Bopanna and Ebden faced a challenging start in the match, struggling with unforced errors in the first set. However, they rallied in the second set, breaking their opponents' serve at crucial junctures to force a tie-breaker. The Indo-Australian pair emerged victorious in the tie-breaker, leveling the match at one set apiece.

The third set was a tense affair, with both teams trading breaks. However, Bopanna and Ebden's experience and composure proved decisive. They broke Verbeek and Smith's serve in the 10th game and held their own to seal the victory 3-6, 7-6 (4), 10-7.

This victory is particularly significant for Bopanna, who is currently ranked No. 2 in the world in doubles. It helps him maintain his position in the top 10 of the ATP doubles ranking, ensuring his direct qualification for the Paris Olympics in July-August. The cut-off date for rankings to be considered for direct Paris qualification is June 10.

Bopanna and Ebden have now reached their third men's doubles semifinal this year. They had previously reached the semifinals of the Adelaide Open and won the Australian Open earlier this year. Their impressive form has made them one of the favorites to win the Miami Open title.

In the semifinals, Bopanna and Ebden will face the winners of the match between Marcel Granollers (Spain)/Horacio Zeballos (Argentina) and Lloyd Glasspool (U.K.)/Jean-Julien Rojer (Netherlands).

Tags: #Tennis, #MiamiOpen, #RohanBopanna, #MatthewEbden, #Doubles