NEW DELHI: Indian tennis veteran
Rohan Bopanna
and his Australian partner
Matthew Ebden
advanced to the quarterfinals of the
men's doubles
at the
Australian Open
with a commanding victory.
The duo, seeded second in the draw, displayed remarkable resilience to secure a 7-6, 7-6 win over the 14th-seeded pair of
Wesley Koolhof
from the Netherlands and Croatia's Nikola Mektic.
Despite facing an early break in both sets, Bopanna and Ebden showcased their skills with impressive returns against their opponents.
The 43-year-old Bopanna, known for his strong service game, faced an initial setback as the 14th seeds took an early lead in the first set. However, the experienced Indian bounced back, demonstrating signature shots, including backhand down-the-line winners and deft overhead lobs.
In the seventh game of the first set, Bopanna and Ebden capitalized on unforced errors by Koolhof and Mektic, securing a breakthrough and gaining momentum. The Indo-Australian pair maintained their composure and held their serves, securing the first set.
The second set saw a similar pattern, with Bopanna losing his initial service game. Despite a revival attempt by their opponents, Bopanna and Ebden regrouped, with Bopanna's exceptional net play and strategic shot placement making a significant impact. The tie-breaker proved decisive, as the duo raced to a 3-0 lead and maintained control to secure the victory.
Bopanna and Ebden, who are the highest-seeded pair remaining in the men's doubles competition, will face the sixth-seeded Argentine duo of
Maximo Gonzalez
and Andres Molteni in the quarterfinals.
The Indo-Australian pairing looks forward to the challenge as they continue their impressive run in the Australian Open.
(With inputs from PTI)
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