Australia’s Matt Ebden and Indian Rohan Bopanna claimed the BNP Paribas Open men’s doubles title.
Indian Wells, USA, 19 March 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Matt Ebden and Indian partner Rohan Bopanna are the Indian Wells 2023 men’s doubles champions.
They won the title defeating the world’s top team, Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands and Brit Neal Skupski, 6-3 2-6 [10-8] in the finals today.
“We are very proud and happy to win this,” Ebden said.
What a match. What a reaction.
Congratulations to our men’s doubles champs @mattebden and @rohanbopanna!#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/HO0wk5etHw
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 19, 2023
This is the ninth career ATP doubles title of the 35-year-old Ebden and first at the ATP Masters 1000 level.
At the age of 43, Bopanna became the oldest winner of an ATP Masters 1000 title. This was his fifth at this level and first since 2017.
“It takes everything to be a top team and win these big tournaments,” Ebden said.
“We call it the fifth Grand Slam for a reason. We faced world-class players, every match was very difficult.”
Ebden and Bopanna prove a formidable combination. Since meeting for the first time in January, they have won 11 of their 15 matches. It was their second title of the season, having also enjoyed a title-winning run in Doha last month.
“We work hard on our games, even at our ages we’re still improving,” Ebden said.
With their victory in the California desert, Ebden became only the eighth Australian to claim the Indian Wells men’s doubles title in the tournament’s 49-year history.
| Indian Wells men’s doubles – Australian champions | |
| Player | Won the title |
| Colin Dibley | 1976 |
| David Macpherson | 1992 |
| Todd Woodbridge | 1996 |
| Mark Woodforde | 1996 |
| Pat Rafter | 1998 |
| Sandon Stolle | 1999 |
| John Peers | 2021 |
| Matt Ebden | 2023 |
Ebden, who started the tournament ranked No.37, is expected to rise to a career-high world No.18 following this title-winning run. He will also replace Jason Kubler as the Australian No.1.
Aussies in action – Indian Wells
RESULTS TODAY
Men’s doubles, final
Matt Ebden (AUS)/Rohan Bopanna (IND) d [1] Wesley Koolhof (NED)/Neal Skupski (GBR) 6-3 2-6 [10-8]
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