Tennis

Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden displayed resilience and determination to overcome a spirited challenge from N Sriram Balaji and MA Reyes-Varela Martinez in the French Open men's doubles third round. The second-seeded Indo-Australian duo rallied from a one-set deficit to secure a hard-fought 6-7(2) 6-3 7-6 (10-8) victory on Monday.The opening set was a closely contested affair, with both pairs holding serve comfortably. However, Balaji and Reyes-Varela seized the initiative in the tie-break, racing to a 4-1 lead. Despite Bopanna and Ebden's efforts, the unseeded pair converted their first set point with a wide serve.Undeterred, Bopanna and Ebden regrouped in the second set. They broke Balaji's serve early on and maintained their advantage throughout, forcing a third set. The deciding set was a tense battle, with neither pair able to gain a decisive edge.As the set progressed, the games were held at love, highlighting the intensity of the competition. Ebden faced pressure serving at 5-6 but delivered under duress. The Super Tie-breaker was equally gripping, with the pairs locked at 6-6.However, Balaji's double fault at 7-8 handed Bopanna and Ebden two match points. They saved the first when Ebden's overhead smash went into the net, but the Australian found a winner on the next to seal the victory.Bopanna, who is yet to finalize his partner for the Paris Games, will have been impressed by Balaji's performance. The seasoned Coorgi is only the third Indian to win Grand Slam titles and has the choice to select his partner for the Games.

Second seeds Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden faced a stern test in their French Open opener, overcoming a spirited challenge from Brazilian duo Orlnado Luz and Marcelo Zormann in a thrilling three-set encounter.The Brazilians, who entered the tournament as eighth alternates, proved to be formidable opponents, pushing the Australian Open champions to the limit. The first set was a see-saw battle, with both teams trading breaks. Bopanna and Ebden eventually prevailed 7-5, but not without a fight from Luz and Zormann.The second set saw the Brazilians seize the initiative, breaking Ebden's serve in the opening game. However, the second seeds responded with a break of their own, and the set remained on serve until the eighth game. Luz and Zormann had four set points to level the match, but Bopanna and Ebden held firm to break back and take the set 6-4.The third set was equally competitive, with both teams holding serve until the fifth game. Bopanna and Ebden finally broke through, and they held on to their advantage to close out the match 6-4.Despite the Brazilians' valiant effort, the experience of Bopanna and Ebden proved decisive. The second seeds showed their class in the crucial moments, shifting momentum in their favor when it mattered most.

India's Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden suffered a disappointing exit from the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday, losing their round of 16 men's doubles match to Mate Pavic of Croatia and Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador. The Indo-Australian duo fell short in a closely contested encounter, going down 3-6, 6-7 (6-8).Bopanna and Ebden faced an uphill battle from the outset, dropping the first set 3-6. Despite a valiant effort in the second set, they were unable to overcome the resilience of their opponents, who ultimately prevailed in a tense tie-breaker.Meanwhile, Indian tennis ace Sumit Nagal's second-round men's singles match against Holger Rune of Denmark was suspended due to rain. Nagal, who had enjoyed an impressive run of form leading up to the tournament, was trailing 3-6, 1-2 when the heavens opened up.Nagal's journey to the second round was marked by a series of impressive victories. He first defeated eighth-seeded Flavio Cobolli in the qualifier, followed by a triumph over third-seeded Facundo Diaz Acosto to secure a spot in the main draw. In the first round, he stunned Italian Matteo Arnaldi in a thrilling three-set encounter.Nagal's performance at the Monte Carlo Masters has been a testament to his recent resurgence. He became the first Indian to win a main draw match at the prestigious tournament, and the first from the country to achieve this feat at one of the three Masters 1000 events held on clay.With a career-high ranking of No. 93 in the ATP rankings, Nagal has established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the international tennis circuit. He joins the ranks of legendary Indian players Vijay Amritraj and Ramesh Krishnan as the only Indians to participate in the main draw at Monaco.

Indian tennis legend Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden have stormed into the men's doubles final of the prestigious Miami Open, a Masters 1000 event. The duo's impressive straight-set victory over Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos on Thursday night has set the stage for a thrilling championship match.Bopanna and Ebden, fresh off their triumph at the Australian Open, displayed their dominance on the court, dispatching their opponents 6-1 6-4 in the semifinals. The Indian-Australian pair barely broke a sweat, showcasing their exceptional chemistry and tactical prowess.This victory marks a significant milestone for Bopanna, who had briefly slipped to second place in the doubles rankings. However, the semifinal win will propel him back to the top spot when the rankings are updated on Monday.Following their Australian Open triumph, the 44-year-old Bopanna became the oldest player to ascend to the world No. 1 ranking in ATP doubles. His remarkable achievement underscores his longevity and unwavering commitment to the sport.In the final, Bopanna and Ebden will face a formidable challenge from Ivan Dodig of Croatia and American Austin Krajicek, who overcame Kevin Krawietz and Tim Putz in a hard-fought semifinal.For Bopanna, this will be his 14th ATP Masters 1000 final and his first in Miami. Overall, it will be his 63rd ATP Tour level final, with 25 doubles titles to his name. This will also be the fifth ATP Masters 1000 final for the Bopanna-Ebden pairing.Bopanna has etched his name in Indian tennis history by becoming only the second Indian after Leander Paes to reach the final of all nine ATP Masters events. This remarkable feat is a testament to his exceptional skill and unwavering determination.

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).