India’s Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden triumphed in the men's doubles final of the Miami Open on March 30 in Florida. The Indo-Australian pair beat the second-seeded team of Croatia’s Ivan Dodic and American Austin Krajicek 6-7 6-3 10-16 to clinch the title. The thrilling match lasted an hour and 42 minutes. Despite a shaky start, the duo bounced back and claimed their second championship of the year.
Earlier in the year, Bopanna and Eden won the Australian Open title which marked a historic win in Melbourne. The win also saw Bopanna break his own record and become the World No. 1 in men’s doubles. The duo have now reached three finals and won two of them in 2024. Their performances have heightened expectations for further triumphs in the long season.
Bopanna and Ebden had a wobbly start to the game as they lost the first set by 6-7. But, they made a strong comeback in the second set and bagged a 6-3 win. Then in the third set, they pull off an exhilarating 10-6 win over Dodig and Krajicek at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Their effectiveness on the first serve was notable as they won 78 percent points, though their second serve win percentage posed challenges as they faced nine break points but saved seven.
By winning in Miami, Bopanna broke his previous record of becoming the oldest man to win a Masters 1000 title on the ATP circuit at the age of 43.
Bopanna is on track to reclaim the top position in the ATP doubles rankings after losing it briefly in the lead-up to the Miami Open. The pair had experienced an unexpected first-round departure at Indian Wells as their title defence came to an early end. But the duo was fueled by determination in Miami and showcased their formidable drive and skill.
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