New York, Aug 31 (UNI) India’s Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden dazzled the crowd at Flushing Meadows on Saturday, racing into the round of 16 at the US Open 2024 with a stunning performance.
Their match against the Spanish-Argentine duo of Roberto Carballes Baena and Federico Coria was a masterclass in dominance, concluding in a brisk 60 minutes with a decisive 6-2, 6-4 victory.
From the opening serve, Bopanna and Ebden showcased their unmatched synergy and precision. They wasted no time asserting their authority on the court, breaking their opponents’ serve right away in the first game. The Indo-Australian pair continued to press their advantage, dismantling Baena and Coria’s defenses with a second break in the fifth game of the first set.
Their commanding play ensured they held their own serves throughout, clinching the first set with ease.
The second set saw the Spanish-Argentine pair try to regroup, but Bopanna and Ebden were relentless. After a few games of steady serving, the Indo-Australian team capitalized on a crucial break point in the seventh game.
They built on this momentum, securing victory with a powerful display of tennis in the final games.
As the reigning Australian Open champions, Bopanna and Ebden now turn their attention to the round of 16, where they will face the Argentine team of Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez.
In another thrilling development of the day, Rohan Bopanna, partnering with Indonesian Aldila Sutjiadi in the mixed doubles, also advanced to the next round. Their match against the Dutch-German pair of Demi Schuurs and Tim Putz was a rollercoaster, with both sets ending in tie-breakers. Bopanna and Sutjiadi emerged victorious with 7-6, 7-6 scores, showcasing their nerve and skill. They will next challenge Australia’s John Peers and Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova.
Earlier, N. Sriram Balaji and his Argentinian partner Guido Andreozzi were narrowly defeated by the eighth-seeded pair of Michael Venus and Neal Skupski, losing 6-7, 6-4 in their second-round match.
Meanwhile, India’s Yuki Bhambri, teaming up with French player Albano Olivetti, delivered an impressive comeback against the 15th-seeded American-Dutch duo of Austin Krajicek and Jean-Julien Rojer. After losing the first set, Bhambri and Olivetti rallied to win 6-3, 7-5, securing their place in the round of 16. Their next opponents are yet to be determined.
The excitement of the US Open continues to build, with more electrifying matches and stellar performances on the horizon.
