Matt Ebden’s dream of changing into the world’s high doubles participant could also be over for an additional 12 months – however now he has his sights set on changing into a world champion for Australia with one other accomplice.
Ebden endured an anti-climactic finish to his title push on the ATP Finals when he and ageless Indian star Rohan Bopanna acquired knocked out in Saturday’s semi-final in Turin.
But although he regarded vastly disillusioned because the defeat ruined their possibilities of ending the 12 months because the world’s No.1 group, there was no time for Ebden to really feel sorry for himself as he flew from Italy to Spain to affix up with Australia’s Davis Cup group in Malaga.
The 35-year-old figures to once more be a key determine in Lleyton Hewitt’s outfit as he hyperlinks up together with his previous Wimbledon-winning accomplice Max Purcell in a doubles pairing that might once more show Australia’s main weapon on this week’s finals.
The pair have received 5 of their six Davis Cup rubbers collectively, together with three victories in an unbeaten week in Manchester in September that did most to make sure final 12 months’s runners-up once more made it to a different finals in Spain.
Last 12 months, Hewitt’s group have been solely denied on the ultimate hurdle by Canada however the Aussies stay assured they will go one higher this 12 months, with Ebden and Purcell the formidable backstops ought to any of the best-of-three match ties come all the way down to a doubles decider.
First up in Wednesday’s quarter-finals for Australia would be the Czech Republic, with Alex de Minaur set to take his acquainted main function and any one in all Thanasi Kokkinakis, Jordan Thompson and Purcell taking the No.2 singles spot.
But Ebden and Purcell, Wimbledon winners final 12 months, are a superb mixture if all of it comes all the way down to the doubles – a situation they each love.
“There’s nothing that can trump that experience and history as a team,” Ebden defined after their Manchester heroics.
“You don’t lose that, and we will always know we play very well together, so it gives us great confidence and incredible belief always no matter what.”
Purcell agrees, explaining their confidence in Manchester: “Any time whenever we have a live doubles to play, I feel like it’s almost game over for us.”
For Ebden, who has a proud Davis Cup report of 10 wins and simply two defeats, together with 4 singles wins, triumph in Malaga can be the prefect tonic after his Turin anti-climax.
“I’m not sure there’s too many better feelings than performing well and fighting and winning with your teammates and for your country. It’s extra special. It’s different,” he stated in Manchester.
“It doesn’t get any bigger than Davis Cup. I love it. I love those extra heightened feelings and extra challenges. I really enjoy the battle.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
