Tennis

Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden, the reigning Australian Open men's doubles champions, have announced their split after two successful years as a team. The duo, who first joined forces in January 2023, ended their partnership with a victory over Germany's Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in their final group match of the ATP Finals 2024.During their partnership, Bopanna and Ebden achieved remarkable success, capturing three major titles: the Australian Open grand slam in 2023, the ATP Masters 1000 titles at Indian Wells 2023, and the Miami Open 2024. They also triumphed at the Qatar Open in 2023 and reached the final of the US Open in the same year. Their impressive performances propelled them to the top of the doubles rankings following their Australian Open triumph.Reflecting on their partnership, Ebden expressed gratitude for their accomplishments. "To finish on a win and at least get one win here at the ATP Finals, I think was fitting or deserving maybe. It was really nice to share one more big moment," he said.Ebden revealed that the duo had initially planned to part ways last year but decided to continue their partnership for the 2024 season. He praised Bopanna's dedication and commitment, particularly at the age of 44.Bopanna, for his part, will reunite with his former Croatian partner, Ivan Dodig, for the 2025 tennis season. Dodig, who is 39 years old, has also enjoyed a successful doubles career, winning multiple grand slam titles.The split between Bopanna and Ebden marks the end of a successful partnership that brought them numerous accolades and memorable moments. Both players have expressed their gratitude for their time together and wish each other well in their future endeavors.

India's Rohan Bopanna and Australia's Matthew Ebden concluded their successful partnership with a dramatic victory over Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in their final group match of the ATP Finals in Turin on Friday. The Indian-Australian duo triumphed 7-5, 6-7(6), 10-7, capping off their 2024 season with a thrilling win.Despite being eliminated from semifinal contention after two earlier losses, Bopanna and Ebden displayed unwavering intensity. They played with composure, even during a tense second-set tie-break where they squandered two match points. However, the pair demonstrated resilience, eventually sealing the win in a Match Tie-break after a 1-hour, 42-minute clash.The victory was highlighted by Bopanna and Ebden's serving prowess, as they combined for 14 aces. This win also leveled their ATP head-to-head record with Krawietz and Puetz at 2-2, adding a positive note to the end of their partnership.Bopanna and Ebden's partnership, which began in January 2023, has been highly successful. Together, they won four tour-level titles, including the prestigious Australian Open this year, and both reached No. 1 in the ATP Doubles Rankings at different points during their time together.For Krawietz and Puetz, the loss was bittersweet. Despite the defeat, the German pair's 2-1 record in group play means they will progress to the semifinals on their ATP Finals debut. The outcome of their group will be determined after the result of the evening's match between Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic and Simone Bolelli/Andrea Vavassori, which will decide whether Krawietz and Puetz finish first or second in the Bob Bryan Group.

Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden's hopes of reaching the semifinals at the ATP Finals 2024 have been dashed after their second consecutive defeat. The Indo-Aussie duo succumbed to the top-seeded pair of Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic in a 68-minute contest, placing them at the bottom of the Bob Bryan group.This tournament marks the end of Bopanna and Ebden's two-year partnership. They had earlier lost their opening match to Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori. Their chances of advancing to the semifinals are now slim, as they face Kevin Krawietz and Tim Putz in their final group-stage match.Despite a mid-season slump, Bopanna and Ebden earned their spot in the ATP Finals by reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros. Bopanna made history in January by becoming the oldest player to reach World No. 1 at the age of 43. He has twice won the prestigious season-ending event.Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz opened his account at the ATP Finals with a thrilling win over Andrey Rublev. The world number three looked in much better form despite struggling with fatigue and illness in the lead-up to the match. Alcaraz's victory boosts his hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden Bow Out of Paris Masters in QuarterfinalsIndian tennis veteran Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden's impressive run at the Paris Masters came to an end in the quarterfinals after a hard-fought defeat to the Dutch-Croatian duo of Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic.The third-seeded Indo-Australian pair battled for one hour and 46 minutes before succumbing 6-7, 5-7 in a closely contested match at the ATP 1000 event on Friday.The first set was a nail-biter, with both teams trading blows and the scoreline remaining tight. Bopanna and Ebden had their chances, but Koolhof and Mektic displayed resilience to save set points and eventually clinch the tiebreaker 8-6.The second set followed a similar pattern, with neither pair able to gain a decisive advantage. However, Bopanna and Ebden faltered at a crucial moment, double faulting in the 12th game to hand Koolhof and Mektic the break they needed to seal the set 7-5.Despite the disappointing result, Bopanna and Ebden can take solace in their strong performance throughout the tournament. Earlier this week, they secured a spot in the prestigious season-ending ATP Finals, a testament to their consistent form.

Veteran Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden have stormed into the quarterfinals of the men's doubles event at the prestigious Paris Masters. The Indo-Australian duo displayed their prowess on Tuesday, overcoming the challenge of the Brazilian-German pair of Marcelo Melo and Alexander Zverev in a hard-fought encounter.The match, which lasted for one hour and 16 minutes, saw Bopanna and Ebden dominate with their first serve, winning an impressive 91 percent of points. They also unleashed four aces throughout the match. The third-seeded Indo-Australian duo seized the initiative early on, securing a crucial break in the first game to take the opening set 6-4.In the second set, Bopanna and Ebden faced a stern test as Melo and Zverev fought back. The reigning Australian Open champions had a chance to break their opponents in the fifth game, but the Brazilian-German duo held firm, forcing the set into a tie-breaker.However, Bopanna and Ebden remained composed in the tie-breaker, showcasing their experience and resilience. They ultimately emerged victorious, winning the second set 7-6 and securing their place in the quarterfinals.This victory marks another milestone for Bopanna and Ebden, who have enjoyed a successful season together. Earlier this week, they clinched a spot in the prestigious season-ending ATP Finals, a testament to their consistent performances throughout the year.As they advance to the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters, Bopanna and Ebden will face a formidable challenge in the form of the top-seeded pair of Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic. The Croatian duo has been in impressive form this season, winning multiple titles, including the Wimbledon and US Open championships.Despite the tough task ahead, Bopanna and Ebden will be confident in their abilities. They have proven their mettle against some of the best doubles teams in the world and will be determined to continue their impressive run at the Paris Masters.

Rohan Bopanna, India's premier doubles player, has secured a spot in the prestigious season-ending ATP Finals alongside his Australian partner Matthew Ebden. This marks Bopanna's fourth appearance in the tournament, a testament to his exceptional skills and longevity in the sport.The Indo-Aussie duo clinched their place after Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow were eliminated at the Rolex Paris Masters, finalizing the 2024 field. Joining Bopanna and Ebden in Turin's elite line-up are Wesley Koolhof/Nikola Mektic, Kevin Krawietz/Tim Puetz, Harri Heliovaara/Henry Patten, Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic, Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos, Simone Bolelli/Andrea Vavassori, and Max Purcell/Jordan Thompson.The ATP Finals, scheduled for November 10-17 at the Inalpi Arena, feature only the top eight doubles teams globally. Bopanna and Ebden have had a remarkable season, starting with a triumph at the Australian Open, where Bopanna became the oldest man at 43 years, 331 days to become a world No. 1. They also won the Miami Open and reached the final in Adelaide and the semi-finals at Roland Garros.This is the second consecutive year that Bopanna and Ebden have qualified for the ATP Finals. In 2023, they reached the semi-finals in Turin before being defeated by Granollers and Zeballos. For Bopanna, this event holds special significance as he aims to capture his maiden ATP Finals title. He previously finished as the finalist in 2012 with Mahesh Bhupathi and again in 2015 alongside Florin Mergea.Bopanna's ATP Finals journey began in 2011 with Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi. His experience and determination will be crucial as he and Ebden strive to make a deep run in Turin and challenge for the coveted title.

Matthew Ebden, known primarily as Rohan Bopanna's doubles partner, has secured a spot in the men's singles main draw at the Paris Olympics. Despite being unranked in singles and not having played a singles match in two years, Ebden was included in the list of alternates and was selected when Andy Murray withdrew.The regulations stipulate that in the event of a withdrawal, preference is given to existing players already listed in the doubles draw. However, to add to the challenge, Ebden has been drawn to face Novak Djokovic in the first round at Roland Garros. If he manages to overcome Djokovic, he will face Rafael Nadal in the next round.Reacting to the draw, Ebden shared a humorous reel on Instagram, expressing his surprise at facing Djokovic and Nadal in consecutive rounds. Ebden, who was previously ranked No. 1 in doubles with Bopanna, is currently third in the ATP rankings. He has won three Grand Slam titles, including the 2022 Wimbledon and 2024 Australian Open men's doubles titles with Max Purcell and Rohan Bopanna, respectively. He also won the 2013 Australian Open mixed doubles title with Jarmila Gajdosova.Ahead of his match against Ebden, Djokovic acknowledged the skepticism surrounding his chances. "People tend to count me out, but it has happened before and it can always change," he said. "I feel more ready now than I was for Wimbledon."Djokovic emphasized the high expectations he places on himself and the pressure he feels representing his nation at the Olympics. "The objective is always the highest one," he said. "I'm hoping I can perform by best and get to the medal match."

Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden suffered a disappointing exit from the Wimbledon men's doubles tournament in the second round. The second-seeded duo fell to unseeded German pair Hendrick Jebens and Constantin Frantzen in straight sets, 3-6, 6-7 (4), on Saturday in London.The match began with Bopanna and Ebden conceding a break in the first set, which proved costly as Jebens and Frantzen held on to their advantage to take the set 6-3. The second set was a more closely contested affair, with both teams holding serve until the tie-breaker.However, the German duo seized control in the tie-breaker, racing out to a 4-1 lead. Bopanna and Ebden were unable to recover, and Jebens and Frantzen sealed the victory with a 7-4 win in the tie-breaker.The match was briefly suspended due to rain when the second set was level at five games. Upon resumption, the momentum shifted in favor of the German pair, who capitalized on their strong serve and aggressive play.Bopanna and Ebden, who won the Australian Open doubles title earlier this year, were hoping to make a deep run at Wimbledon. However, their hopes were dashed by the unseeded German duo, who played with impressive consistency and determination.

India's Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden have advanced to the second round of the Wimbledon men's doubles event with a comfortable victory over Robin Haas and Sander Arends. The Indo-Australian duo cruised past their Dutch opponents 7-5, 6-4 in an hour and 11 minutes in a rain-interrupted match on July 3.Bopanna and Ebden, the second seeds and reigning Australian Open champions, will face Germany's Hendrik Jebens and Constantin Frantzen in the second round. The pair reached the semifinals of the season's third Grand Slam last year.Meanwhile, India's Sumit Nagal and his Serbian partner Dusan Lajovic were eliminated in the first round by Spaniards Pedro Martinez and Jaume Munar. Martinez and Munar won 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and seven minutes.India will have further representation in the men's doubles first round through N Sriram Balaji and Yuki Bhambri on July 4. Balaji will partner Britain's Luke Johnson and face fourth seeds Mate Pavic of Serbia and Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador. Bhambri and France's Albano Olivetti will take on the Kazakh duo of Alexander Bublik and Alexander Shevchenko.