India’s Rohan Bopanna and Australia’s Matthew Ebden concluded their successful partnership with a dramatic victory over Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in their final group match of the ATP Finals in Turin on Friday. The Indian-Australian duo triumphed 7-5, 6-7(6), 10-7, capping off their 2024 season with a thrilling win.
Despite being eliminated from semifinal contention after two earlier losses, Bopanna and Ebden displayed unwavering intensity. They played with composure, even during a tense second-set tie-break where they squandered two match points. However, the pair demonstrated resilience, eventually sealing the win in a Match Tie-break after a 1-hour, 42-minute clash.
The victory was highlighted by Bopanna and Ebden’s serving prowess, as they combined for 14 aces. This win also leveled their ATP head-to-head record with Krawietz and Puetz at 2-2, adding a positive note to the end of their partnership.
Bopanna and Ebden’s partnership, which began in January 2023, has been highly successful. Together, they won four tour-level titles, including the prestigious Australian Open this year, and both reached No. 1 in the ATP Doubles Rankings at different points during their time together.
For Krawietz and Puetz, the loss was bittersweet. Despite the defeat, the German pair’s 2-1 record in group play means they will progress to the semifinals on their ATP Finals debut. The outcome of their group will be determined after the result of the evening’s match between Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic and Simone Bolelli/Andrea Vavassori, which will decide whether Krawietz and Puetz finish first or second in the Bob Bryan Group.
