Indian Wells Open 2024: Rohan Bopanna/Matthew Ebden vs Sander Gille/Joran Vliegen preview, head-to-head, prediction, live streaming

Published at :March 7, 2024 at 12:22 PM

Modified at :March 14, 2024 at 5:21 PM

(Courtesy : ATP Tour)

Rohan Bopanna/Matt Ebden recently won their first grand slam together

As the Indian Wells Open 2024 commences, all eyes are on the defending champions, Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden. The Indo-Australian pair is set to compete in the first-round match against the unseeded Belgian duo, Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen. Bopanna and Ebden are determined to defend their title and set the tone for the tournament.

Rohan Bopanna made it to the top spot on the ATP rankings, claiming the World No. 1 spot in the doubles rankings for the first time after winning the 2024 Australian Open with Matthew Ebden. Ebden followed suit and became doubles World No. 1 in February, briefly swapping places with Bopanna.

Ebden is one of five Australians to reach the top spot in doubles – the others being Todd Woodbridge, Mark Woodforde, John Fitzgerald and Paul McNamee. Bopanna, at 43, became the oldest first-time World No.1 and is the third Indian after Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi to accomplish the feat.

If all goes according to plan, Bopanna and Ebden will meet Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury, with whom they share a long history in the finals of the 2024 BNP Paribas Open. Their most recent encounter was at Adelaide in early January in the finals, which was won by Ram and Salisbury.

Rohan Bopanna/Matthew Ebden vs Sander Gille/Joran Vliegen Preview

Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden are set to navigate the Indian Wells tournament without encountering a seeded pair until at least the third round, where they could potentially face Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos. However, before that clash can materialize, they must first overcome the challenge posed by the Belgian duo, Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen.

Gille and Vliegen have yet to advance beyond the second round at Indian Wells, in contrast to the Indo-Australian pair who clinched the trophy last year. The 2024 season has unfolded quite differently for both teams. The Belgian pair kicked off the year with a bang, reaching the finals in Hong Kong. However, their momentum waned with first-round exits at Melbourne, Doha, and Dubai, although they did manage to reach the quarterfinals in Auckland and Rotterdam.

On the other hand, Bopanna and Ebden have had a stellar start to their season, securing their first Grand Slam title as a team at the 2024 Australian Open. This triumph was bookended by a final appearance at Adelaide and a quarterfinal spot in Dubai, signaling a promising year ahead for the duo.

Head-to-head records

Matches – 0

Rohan Bopanna/Matthew Ebden – 0

Sander Gille/Joran Vliegen – 0

These two teams will meet for the first time in the opening round of the 2024 BNP Paribas Open. Bopanna and Ebden, the top seeds, are 9-2 this season, losing a closely contested Adelaide Open final and also a closely fought round of eight fixture in the Dubai Tennis Championships 2024. The triumph of the defending champions at Indian Wells in 2023 was also their first Masters title as a doubles team.

Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen have six wins and six losses this season. Their appearance at Indian Wells in 2021 was the first and only time they have played together at this event. The long-term doubles team won titles at Estoril and Pune in the 2023 season and are still on the hunt for their first trophy of the ongoing season. Gille and Vliegen did come close to snaring a trophy at Hong Kong.

Where and how to watch the live streaming and TV broadcast of Rohan Bopanna/Matthew Ebden vs Sander Gille/Joran Vliegen, Indian Wells Open 2024, first round match in India?

The opening round of the Indian Wells Open 2024 featuring Rohan Bopanna/Matthew Ebden against Sander Gille/Joran Vliegen will be televised live on the Sony Network. For streaming enthusiasts, the match can be viewed on the SonyLiv app or website. Moreover, Tennis TV offers an alternative platform for Indian fans to follow the tournament.

Prediction

Rohan Bopanna and his partner are entering the opening round of the 2024 BNP Paribas Open with high confidence. They’ve secured their first Grand Slam title in Melbourne and boast an impeccable 4-0 record at Indian Wells.

Gille and Vliegen, with a 1-1 record at the Indian Wells Open, have demonstrated their ability to cause upsets, as evidenced by their performance last year in Pune. There, they delivered a straight-set victory over the seasoned pair of Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in the semifinals, ultimately clinching the title.

Comparing recent performances, Bopanna and Ebden have emerged victorious in four of their last five encounters, while Gille and Vliegen have secured two wins out of their last five matches.

Result: Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden to win in straight sets.

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