Ebden makes ‘pipe dream’ come true, climbs to double world No.1
The Australian reflects on his achievement
February 26, 2024
ATP Tour/Getty Images
Matthew Ebden is the fifth Australian to reach No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP doubles rankings.
By Andrew Eichenholz
Matthew Ebden remembers Wimbledon in 2010, when he first appeared on grass as a 22-year-old. The Australian asked former world doubles No.1 Todd Woodbridge, a nine-time men’s doubles champion at the tournament, if he could show him the trophies and the entrance to Center Court.
Almost 14 years later, Ebden on Monday became one of only five Australians to reach No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Doubles rankings. The other three are Woodbridge, Mark Woodforde, John Fitzgerald and Paul McNamee.
“It’s pretty surreal. I thought even that list of Australians who were No. 1 in doubles would be longer,” Ebden told ATPTour.com. “There were some guys I guess who were No. 2 or 3 or guys who had won Grand Slams like Newcombe and Roche and Peter McNamara and a lot of other guys, but they never got to No. 1. So it’s a very short, esteemed list .
“It’s an incredible honor to be part of this list and to start winning a lot of Grand Slams now.”
Ebden and partner Rohan Bopanna have risen to the top of the sport since starting their partnership last season. They won the Australian Open last month, setting the stage for Bopanna to rise to world No 1, and Ebden has now swapped places with the 43-year-old.
Photo: AFP/Getty Images
“I think Matt really deserved to be No. 1 in the world,” Bopanna said. “Both of us, getting this far, wouldn’t have happened without each other’s support. On the court he brings a calmness and togetherness that helps us as a team and helps me bring out my attacking style of play. Congratulations to Matt on achieving the world No. 1 ranking.”
Ebden said: “For me to reach the No.1 ranking this week, it’s obviously been a lot of hard work and sacrifice. But I’m grateful that it’s happened relatively quickly in the last two, three years, winning Slams and reaching No. 1 on my doubles journey.”
The Australian only started focusing on doubles after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. He enjoyed a singles career that spanned more than a decade, during which he climbed as high as No. 39 in the ATP Pepperstone Rankings and reached one ATP Tour final (2017 Newport).
In 2018, Ebden reached a career high ranking. But from the start of the following year, he struggled with a leg injury that kept him out for more than three months. He struggled to find form after that and finished the season with a 5-16 record at tour level.
So when the pandemic caused the Tour to be suspended in March 2020, Ebden’s ATP ranking was well outside the Top 200. At the time, the prospect of returning to the Top 100 was daunting. It would take a long time for him to return to the ATP Challenger Tour and there was no guarantee that he would.
However, Ebden’s Pepperstone ATP Doubles Ranking remained close to the Top 100, giving him a more feasible path to compete in the world’s biggest tournaments. He also felt his all-court game served the doubles.
“I served well, I returned well, I went in a lot, I came forward, I got to the net, I used the serve volley,” Ebden said. “Even throughout my career, while playing singles, I managed to win several doubles titles, even a mixed doubles Grand Slam in Australia.”
So when Ebden made the decision to turn his attention to doubles, it wasn’t just to survive on Tour. The Australian had big dreams for his new chapter.
“I knew the way I played tennis translated really well to the doubles court,” Ebden said. “In the back of my mind, I kind of thought at the end of my career, I might have another little sub-career of five or more years where I could really have a crack at doubles, and really focus on that, and try to do some great stuff and try to win some Slams.
“I don’t even know if I thought about getting to No. 1 in the world then. It’s a bit of a dream, that sort of thing, even to win a Slam.”
Ebden teamed up with compatriot Max Purcell in the 2022 Australian Open final and has been near the top of the sport ever since. The Australians won Wimbledon later that year and in 2023, Ebden began playing with Bopanna.
The 2023 Nitto ATP Finals competitors have consistently played well at the world’s biggest tournaments and their triumph at the Australian Open was the biggest of their partnership.
“When I started this doubles journey the last two or three years, and I actually started having good success, it was definitely one of my big, big goals,” Ebden said. “To win Slams and reach No. 1.”
The 36-year-old is home in Perth from the Australian Open, enjoying time with family and friends after one of the most memorable moments of his career. Just a few days ago he flew to Dubai and for the first time he will compete as the No. 1 doubles player in the world.
“It gives you a kind of tingling or chills,” Ebden said. “And to be known as him, or someone who has achieved that, is really special.”
Woodbridge she wrote on Instagram last week captioning a photo of him and Ebden in front of the Wimbledon trophies: “It was before the tournament and to try and explain and inspire… and the rest is history, congrats Matt. very proud of you.. Teddy”.