Wimbledon 2023 Highlights: Rohan Bopanna/Matthew Ebden bow out after straight sets defeat in doubles semis

Welcome to the Khel Now's live blog for Wesley Koolhof/Neal Skupski vs Matthew Ebden/Rohan Bopanna men's doubles quarter-finals match in Wimbledon 2023.

Indian-Australian pair Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden reached the men’s doubles semi-finals in Wimbledon 2023. This is also the third time Bopanna has reached the semi-finals stage at Wimbledon having also previously made this stage in 2013 and 2015 albeit with different partners. Aussie Ebden, on the other hand, is on a 10-match winning streak at Wimbledon in men’s doubles and also won the last edition partnering his countrymate Max Purcell.

Seeded sixth, the Indo-Aussie pair progressed to the semi-finals by defeating two alternate pairs – David Pel/ Reece Stadler and Tallon Griekspoor/Bart Stevens in the last 16 and quarter-finals respectively. In the pre-quarter-finals clash, the Bopanna-Ebden saved three match points in the third set (deciding game) against David Pel and Reece Stadler – with the game lasting for close to ten minutes and seven deuce. They pushed the match to the tie-break where the experienced duo used all their experience and won the match comprehensively.

Preview

Bopanna and Ebden’s opponents in the semi-finals are top seeds Neil Skupski and Wesley Koolhof. The Great British-Dutch pair will certainly go into the Wimbledon 2023 semi-finals clash as the favourites with a huge crowd support expected in their favour. They have been in excellent form post the French Open – reaching the semi-finals of Queens Club Championships and winning the ATP Hertogenbosch title.

Both the top seeds and the sixth seed pairs have met each other four times since March 2023, with the head-to-head record remaining even stevens at 2-2.

Neil Skupski’s net play followed by Wesley Koolhof’s serving will play a major role in the semi-finals clash. On the other hand, Rohan Bopanna has been tested by majority of the opponents on his backhand first serve – an area where he has lost points considerably. His service game is one of the best in the doubles circuit with his partner highly reliable on the return forehand service.

About the opponents

Skupski and Koolhof did not have a good start to the season, losing in the opening round at ATP Adelaide Open and the facing a quarter-finals defeat to local winners Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijikata at the Australian Open. Overall, the pair has lost two finals in ATP tournaments this year, including a major loss to Bopanna and Ebden at the Indian Wells Masters.

They have also failed to reach beyond the quarter-finals stages in both the grand slams — Australian and French Open — this year but now have a good chance of making it to their maiden Grand Slam final this season.

Head-to-head Record

Both pairs have met each other four times.

Wins – 2

Loss – 2