In a thrilling display of skill and resilience at the Miami Open, the formidable duo of Rohan Bopanna from India and Matthew Ebden from Australia showcased their exceptional talent by securing a spot in their third men’s doubles semi-final of the year. Their journey to the semi-finals was marked by a hard-fought victory against the team of Sem Verbeek from the Netherlands and John-Patrick Smith from Australia. Despite facing challenges in the initial set, Bopanna and Ebden turned the tables with a scoreline that read 3-6, 7-6 (4), 10-7.
This victory holds significant importance for 44-year-old Bopanna, who is currently the world’s No. 2 in doubles ranking. It not only cements his position in the top 10 of the ATP doubles rankings but also plays a crucial role in his pursuit of direct qualification for the upcoming Paris Olympics scheduled for July-August. The deadline for achieving the rankings necessary for direct qualification is set for June 10.
How did the match unfold for Bopanna and Ebden?
Throughout the match, the top-seeded pair encountered difficulties with their serve percentages but demonstrated strategic brilliance by breaking their opponents at pivotal moments in the second set. This strategic play led them to a tie-breaker victory, leveling the match and setting the stage for their triumphant finish.
Earlier this year, Bopanna achieved a personal milestone by winning his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, which propelled him to the pinnacle of the world rankings. However, following a quarterfinal exit at the Dubai Championships and an early departure from the Indian Wells Masters, he saw a slight dip to the second spot in the rankings.
Looking ahead, Bopanna and Ebden are poised to face the victors of the match between the pairs of Marcel Granollers (Spain)/Horacio Zeballos (Argentina) and Lloyd Glasspool (U.K.)/Jean-Julien Rojer (Netherlands) in what promises to be an exhilarating semi-final clash.
Their journey to the Miami Open semi-finals adds to their impressive start to the year, which includes reaching the semi-final at the Adelaide Open and making it to the title round before being bested by the team of Rajeev Ram (U.S.A.) and Joe Salisbury (U.K.).
