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Within the first ATP Finals doubles match between opposing Aussies since 1998, Matt Ebden and Indian companion Rohan Bopanna emerged triumphant.
Turin, Italy, 15 November 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Matt Ebden and Indian companion Rohan Bopanna have stored their hopes alive on the ATP Finals in Turin.
The third seeds scored their first round-robin win on the prestigious season-ending championships on Wednesday, beating the all-Australian pairing of Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler 6-4 6-4.
Ebden and Bopanna proved untouchable on serve within the 70-minute encounter, firing 12 aces and conceding a complete of solely 5 factors throughout their service video games.
The business-like efficiency helped Ebden win the first assembly between Australian doubles gamers on the ATP Finals in 25 years.
It offers one other spotlight in a history-making week for the Aussie contenders.
That is the primary time in 36 years that three Australian gamers are making their ATP Finals debut in the identical 12 months, whereas 22-year-old Hijikata is the youngest doubles participant from any nation to qualify on the occasion in 28 years.
> READ: Hijikata rewrites historical past at ATP Finals
Ebden, who at the moment sits at a career-high rating of world No.4, is in competition too to assert the world No.1 rating this week.
The 35-year-old from Perth might rise to the highest of the ATP Tour rankings with a title-winning run.
His speedy focus, nonetheless, is now on their upcoming remaining round-robin conflict with reigning Wimbledon champions, Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands and Brit Neal Skupski.
Victory is required for Ebden and Bopanna to have an opportunity of progressing to the semifinals.
The final Australian to achieve the semifinals on the ATP Finals was John Friends, when he captured the 2017 title alongside Finland’s Henri Kontinen.
Aussies in motion – ATP Finals
RESULTS
Males’s doubles, spherical robin
[3] Matt Ebden (AUS)/Rohan Bopanna (IND) d [8] Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Jason Kubler (AUS) 6-4 6-4
COMING UP
Males’s doubles, spherical robin
[3] Matt Ebden (AUS)/Rohan Bopanna (IND) v [2] Wesley Koolhof (NED)/Neal Skupski (GBR)
[8] Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Jason Kubler (AUS) v [6] Rajeev Ram (USA)/Joe Salisbury (GBR)
> VIEW: ATP Finals 2023 group standings
Discover your option to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on court docket and have some enjoyable!
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