Veteran Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna, aged 43, and his Australian partner, Matthew Ebden, 36, showcased their prowess by reaching their second consecutive Grand Slam men’s doubles final at the Australian Open. The duo defeated Zhang Zhizhen of China and Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic in a thrilling semifinal match, securing their spot in the championship match. Bopanna and Ebden, currently ranked second in men’s doubles, had previously reached the US Open final in September but fell short. However, tournament officials revealed that the combined ages of 79 years make them the oldest No. 1 pairing in tennis history at the end of the Australian Open.
In the semifinal clash against Zhang and Machac, Bopanna and Ebden displayed resilience and determination. The match unfolded with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7) scoreline, with the veteran duo holding a 4-1 lead in the third set before their opponents forced a match tiebreaker. The thrilling encounter showcased Bopanna and Ebden’s fighting spirit, overcoming tough moments to secure their place in the final.
Reflecting on the epic third set, Ebden praised his partner, stating, “What an epic third set. I’ve just got to hand it to my partner. We’ve been fighting since round one; a lot of tough moments, fighting through one-by-one.”
Their journey to the final sets up a showdown with the Italian pair of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori. Bolelli and Vavassori advanced by defeating Yannick Hanfmann and Dominik Koepfer of Germany 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) in their semifinal match. The final promises an exciting battle between experienced pairs, with Bopanna and Ebden seeking to secure their first men’s doubles Grand Slam title together.
Notably, Bopanna’s age-defying performances have garnered attention, and the achievement of becoming the oldest No. 1 pairing adds another remarkable chapter to his illustrious career. Despite facing physical challenges and competing against younger opponents, Bopanna continues to excel on the tennis court.
The Australian Open also witnessed action in the women’s doubles category, where Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan and Elise Mertens of Belgium, the No. 2-seeded team, secured a victory against the third-seeded pair of Storm Hunter of Australia and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic. The 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 win propelled Hsieh and Mertens to the final, where they will await the winners of the other women’s doubles semifinal scheduled for Friday.
As the men’s and women’s doubles competitions unfold, the anticipation builds for the women’s singles semifinals, featuring clashes between top players, including US Open champion Coco Gauff, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, Dayana Yastremska, and Zheng Qinwen. The winners will advance to the final, set to take place on Saturday, providing tennis enthusiasts with thrilling matchups and exciting moments.
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By- Sahiba Suri