India’s Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden made a strong start to their US Open 2024 campaign, defeating the Dutch pair of Sander Arends and Robin Haase in straight sets to advance to the second round of the men’s doubles tournament at Flushing Meadows.
The second-seeded duo, who were runners-up in the previous edition of the US Open, secured a convincing 6-3, 7-5 victory in just 64 minutes at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Thursday.
This victory marked a significant turnaround for Bopanna and Ebden, who had struggled with form recently, losing their last three matches. However, they appeared to have regained their rhythm as they dispatched the unseeded Dutch duo in an impressive display of skill and experience.
The match began with both teams holding their serve in the opening games, but it was Arends and Haase who first threatened to take control, earning a break point in the third game.
Despite this early challenge, Bopanna and Ebden quickly recovered, breaking back immediately and then winning four consecutive games, including two break points, to take the first set 6-3. The Dutch pair managed to reclaim one game towards the end, but it was not enough to disrupt the momentum of the Indo-Australian pair.
In the second set, Arends and Haase started more aggressively, gaining an early break to take a 4-1 lead. However, the seasoned partnership of Bopanna and Ebden, who are the reigning Australian Open champions, displayed their resilience and tactical acumen.
They gradually clawed their way back into the match, leveraging a combination of powerful serves, aces, and capitalizing on unforced errors from their opponents. Their efforts paid off as they leveled the set at 5-5, setting the stage for a tense finish.
With the set finely poised, Bopanna and Ebden earned a crucial break to go up 6-5, leaving them just one game away from victory. Despite a determined effort from the Dutch pair, the second-seeded team held their nerve and their serve to close out the match, securing their place in the second round with a 7-5 win in the second set.
Bopanna and Ebden will now face the Spanish-Argentine duo of Roberto Carballes Baena and Federico Coria in the second round. Their experience and recent form will make them favourites in that encounter, as they aim to replicate or surpass their impressive run at last year’s US Open.
In addition to his men’s doubles campaign, Rohan Bopanna is also set to compete in the mixed doubles event, where he will partner with Indonesia’s Aldila Sutjiadi. The pair will play their opening round match on Friday, adding another dimension to Bopanna’s busy schedule at the final Grand Slam of the year.
