Feeding on the ambience of the big stage and celebrating his rise to the world No. 1 (individual) ranking in doubles, Rohan Bopanna and Matt Ebden, his partner outhit Zhizhen Zhang and Tomas Machac in three sets (super tie-break final set) to enter the men’s doubles final at the Australian Open.
On Thursday, the Indian-Aussie duo showed the nuances of doubles in ample measure in the heat of the Melbourne to force an adrenaline-fuelled 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) win in a rollercoaster ride. An entry into the season’s first Grand Slam final was the icing on the cake for Bopanna, who now has 502 wins in international matches.
Level 43, as Rohan Bopanna has often spoken of his age, went up a few more levels on Wednesday as the Indian ace showed what it is to play in tandem with a partner he is in sync with. There was a bit of unconventional play from Zhang and Machac, a scratch doubles combination who were something of a surprise package.
When it comes to playing top-level doubles, Bopanna and Ebden have it in them to play a different style. In the old days, doubles meant quick hands at the net, sharp volleys and great reflexes. The way the tennis ball has been slowed down and with courts no longer that quick, it has become a game for the old-time doubles purists.
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Today, players who are essentially baseline barons can win points from the back court, something beyond the imagination a few years ago. That Bopanna has been able to adapt and still come up with big wins is significant.
Ebden lost serve once in the second set for the duo to lose their rhythm. However, in the third set, Bopanna and Ebden were on top, despite the blips. There was solidity and style on view, with the serve being a potent factor and the angles covered well. Given the reach of Bopanna and Ebden, they could cover a lot of ground. Yet, in the heat of Melbourne, the two seasoned pros had to keep their heads cool and wait for their chances. To churn out big serves was not easy. If they were “speeding” at 180km/hr, it was due to the effort being thrown in by the serving shoulder. Then again, the forehands which Bopanna kept firing on Thursday were top class.
If one thought the drama in the final set would be less, there were a quick few breaks of serve. Yet, in the last few games, Bopanna showed fans why he used to be called “Bofors” Bopanna. Once into the super tie-break, it called for great control and handling the pressure.
These super tie-breaks are a bit like a Russian roulette. You do not even get a minor margin for error and have to keep pushing hard. For sheer intensity, the last part of the contest was all about nerves, or, holding them. The way Bopanna fired an ace on the last point was like watching a young man pumped up.
His serve may have lost sting over the years but when it comes to the crunch, he comes out smoking. It was character plus class, with Bopanna leading his teammate. Watching the chest bump from the duo were a sign of a combination that has worked so well.
“I think on the circuit, we play super tie-breaks well,” said Bopanna later. “We had to make sure we hit our serves on the spot today. Even though tennis is an individual sport, I think when I decided to play with Matt, I focused on playing my best tennis, focusing on mobility and doing yoga.”