Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden Finish as Runners-Up in Thrilling US Open 2023 Men’s Doubles Final

By Sujoy Roy

In a dramatic and closely contested final at the US Open 2023, Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden showcased their prowess but narrowly missed out on the men’s doubles title. The duo faced the defending champions, American Rajeev Ram and Britain’s Joe Salisbury, in a thrilling match that lasted two hours and one minute.

Bopanna and Ebden, seeded sixth, got off to a blistering start by breaking Ram’s serve in the opening game of the match. With Bopanna’s ferocious forehand and Ebden’s precision, they comfortably secured the first set with a score of 6-2.

However, Ram and Salisbury, the third seeds, came back strongly in the second set, finding a breakthrough in Bopanna’s serve in the sixth game and eventually taking the set 6-3. The match was then pushed into a decisive third set.

The third set saw intense action with both teams displaying remarkable tennis skills. Bopanna and Ebden found themselves down 0-40 in the opening game but staged a remarkable comeback to hold their serve. In a display of sportsmanship, Bopanna conceded a point after the ball deflected off his arm, showcasing the true spirit of the game.

Despite their resilience, Bopanna and Ebden were unable to secure victory, as Ram and Salisbury managed to break Bopanna’s serve for the second time in the final set. The defending champions clinched the match with a score of 6-4 in the third set, securing their third consecutive US Open title and making history as the first men’s doubles team to achieve a three-peat in over 90 years.

This was Bopanna’s second Grand Slam men’s doubles final, with his previous appearance occurring 13 years ago when he partnered with Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi. Unfortunately, they lost to the legendary Bryan brothers of the USA.

At 43 years and six months, Rohan Bopanna made history by becoming the oldest player to reach a men’s doubles Grand Slam final in the Open era. He surpassed the previous record held by Canada’s Daniel Nestor. Bopanna’s quest for his first men’s doubles Grand Slam title continues, but his remarkable journey in the world of tennis continues to inspire fans around the globe.

Despite this loss, Bopanna and Ebden’s performance throughout the tournament was commendable, as they dropped only one set in five matches en route to the final. Their partnership, which began at the start of the season, has shown great promise, with victories at the Qatar Open in February and a semi-final appearance at Wimbledon in July.

While Bopanna’s pursuit of a men’s doubles Grand Slam title remains ongoing, his contributions to the sport and his ability to compete at the highest level at an age when many would consider retirement continue to be a source of inspiration for aspiring tennis players worldwide