What an exhilarating semi-final match we witnessed, huh? Our very own Rohan Bopanna from India has teamed up with Aussie Matthew Ebden, and let me tell you, these guys are on fire! They managed to take down the French power team of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut, and how!
43-year-old Rohan Bopanna from India and Australia’s Matthew Ebden have clinched the first finalist spot in the US Open men’s doubles. In the semifinals, the pair defeated French duo Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut with a score of 7:6 (7:3), 6:2.
The match lasted 1 hour and 35 minutes. The victors served up five aces, made four double faults, and converted three out of their six break points (50%). On the other hand, their French counterparts managed three aces, seven double faults, and were able to capitalize on just one of their six break opportunities.
The Match That Had Us On The Edge
This wasn’t an easy one, by the way. Imagine being at 2-4 on Ebden’s serve, staring down a break point that could’ve led to a catastrophic double break in the first set. Well, they defied the odds, saved it, and won that set in a nerve-racking tie-break. Talk about drama!
You need to hear this: Bopanna and Ebden smacked 36 winners as opposed to the Frenchmen’s 19. And then they wrapped up the final set 6-2.
That first set save was everything. The crowd was electric, man, and it feels like déjà vu being in the final after 13 years.
What’s At Stake?
Hold on, because the stakes are high for both. At 43, Bopanna, who already holds 24 tour-level doubles titles, is hunting for his first-ever Grand Slam. Remember 2010? He came oh-so-close with Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi. And don’t forget Ebden, fresh off his Wimbledon doubles win, has been killing it this season.
A Dynamic Partnership
Since partnering up in the first week of this season, these two have been dynamite together, racking up an impressive 32-15 record.
Rohan beat me in 2018, so I thought, why not join forces?
They’re currently third in the ATP Doubles Team Rankings, and honestly, I wouldn’t bet against them for the upcoming Nitto ATP Finals.
Age is Just a Number
Let’s sprinkle some more spice: Bopanna just broke a record! He’s now the oldest Grand Slam doubles semi-finalist in the Open Era, beating out Daniel Nestor’s record from 2016.
Upcoming Showdown with the Champs
Brace yourselves for the final because it’s gonna be a cracker. They’re up against Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury, the two-time defending US Open champs. Despite a lackluster year, Ram and Salisbury are known for turning up the heat at Flushing Meadows, so our dynamic duo will need to bring their A-game.
Final Thoughts
As we head into this nail-biter of a final, let’s cheer on Bopanna and Ebden. Whether you’re team “Ram-Salisbury” or rooting for our Indo-Aussie pair, get ready for some scintillating tennis!
So, grab your popcorn and settle in folks; this final is set to be an absolute barn-burner!
