It was Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell who flew the flag for Australia after taking out the Wimbledon doubles title. (Image: Tennis Australia)
After two weeks of tournament action, Wimbledon has wrapped up for another year.
The 135th edition of the major grand slam saw the event close out with two Australians claiming the doubles crown, whilst Nick Kyrgios missed out on a grand slam win.
Purcell and Ebden doubles’ newest dynamic duo?
For only just their fourth grand slam appearance as a pair, it seems that Max Purcell and Matt Ebden are doing something right. Over the weekend, the doubles duo took out their maiden doubles grand slam title after defeating reigning champions Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic.
In the thrilling four hour battle, the Australians fought hard to earn the coveted title as their win checked off a number of historic firsts. Ebden and Purcell put on a stellar display during the match to prevail as Wimbledon’s gentlemen’s doubles champions, 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 4-6 6-4 7-6(2).
The win concludes a stellar Wimbledon campaign for both Australians after they toppled four seeded teams and spent more than 20 hours on court.
It was the tournament’s first-ever gentlemen’s doubles final match to be decided with a match tiebreak. It also the first all-Australian team to get the title in 22 years. The feat was last achieved in 2000 by Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde.
Ebden spoke with media following his win and commented about claiming the doubles title.
“To be out there over four hours, 7-6 in the fifth set, finish a Wimbledon final with a match tiebreak, it was insane,” Ebden said.
“A lot of the crowd were loving it. They were telling us at the end when we were walking around they were entertained. What a fitting end for a Centre Court, Wimbledon final. [It’s] stuff you dream of.
“We definitely believe that we’re the best doubles team in the world, if not one of the best.”
Ebden, Stosur runner-ups in mixed doubles
The title win follows Ebden’s other huge win at the tournament where he played in the mixed doubles tournament alongside Sam Stosur. The duo reunited for a second time after coming runners-up at last year’s Australian Open.
Both himself and Stosur had a meteoric run to the Wimbledon final where they had hoped to become the third all-Australian team to take out the Wimbledon mixed doubles title.
But it just wasn’t meant to be after reigning champions Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski took out the win against the Australians.
In the 86 minute final, the two Australians set up an early break in the second set which saw them look to get the win. But unfortunately, Krawczyk and Skupski switched gears as the match progressed to snatch the victory away from Stosur and Ebden 6-4 6-3.
Djokovic crushes Kyrgios grand slam dream
It wasn’t smooth sailing for Nick Kyrgios however, as the world number 40 was toppled in his Wimbledon final against an in-form Novak Djokovic.
For the 27-year-old, it’s a bittersweet end to a stunning Wimbledon campaign who saw wins against Paul Jubb, Filip Krajinovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Brandon Nakashima and Cristian Garin.
Kyrgios was given a ticket straight into the final against world number three Djokovic after Rafael Nadal forfeited the semi-final due to an abdominal injury.
The men’s singles final was a thrilling match-up that started off strong for the Canberra-born tennis player. He fought off Djokovic in the first set. however it quickly began to unravelled as Djokovic crawled back in the second set.
The Serbian took out the win, and his 21st title, 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6.
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