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India's Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden missed out a shot at glory as they suffered a 6-2, 3-6, 4-6 loss against USA's Rajeev Ram and UK's Joe Salisbury in the US Open men's doubles final on Friday, September 8. At 43, Bopanna was on the cusp of becoming the oldest Grand Slam champion in the Open era. However, his aspirations were dashed after an intense showdown spanning just beyond two hours at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Meanwhile, with this win, Rajiv Ram and Joe Salisbury completed their hat-trick of US Open Men’s Doubles titles.
This was the second time Bopanna contested in the title clash at the Flushing Meadows. The 43-year-old had played the 2010 men’s doubles final with Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, but went down to the Bryan brothers.
Notably, Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury have now won their their past 18 matches in New York, having triumphed at the event in 2021 and 2022. Their most recent victory was a testament to their sustained excellence, having previously secured titles in 2021 and 2022. Beyond the Big Apple, the duo has also celebrated major wins elsewhere, notably capturing the 2020 Australian Open championship.
Leading up to the US Open, the pair, seeded third, showcased a performance that was modest for their caliber, recording a 20-16 annual tally. Yet, the iconic city saw them return to peak form. Their road to the title included triumphs over formidable seeds: Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni, as well as Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek. This remarkable feat propelled them ten places up, positioning them sixth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings.
The scorching 32-degree heat at the Arthur Ashe Stadium didn't deter Ram and Salisbury's prowess. Throughout their two-hour and four-minute battle, they displayed a progressive enhancement in their return game. By consistently challenging Bopanna and Ebden, and making strategic advances to the net, they exerted immense pressure. Their defensive skills shone as they thwarted all break point attempts by their rivals in the decisive sets, capitalizing on their chances to clinch the match.
Rohan Bopanna's commendable sportsmanship was a noteworthy moment in the duel. During a crucial juncture at 2-4 in the third set, a ball, served by Ebden, brushed against Bopanna's arm and was declared a winner. While the oversight was missed by the umpire, Bopanna, in a display of integrity, acknowledged the fault, offering Ram and Salisbury an advantage.
The stakes were high for both Bopanna and Ebden. Bopanna had his eyes set on his first-ever major title, recalling a similar scenario in 2010 when he was in the US Open final alongside Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi. On the other hand, 35-year-old Ebden was chasing his second Grand Slam title, reminiscing his 2022 Wimbledon win with partner Max Purcell.
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