By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday February 27, 2024
Australia’s Matthew Ebden has carved out a solid career on the doubles circuit since he decided to focus his tennis on the discipline. Now he’s the world’s No.1 player – and the fifth man from Australia to hold the honor.
This week Ebden, 36, joins Todd Woodbridge, Mark Woodforde, John Fitzgerald and Paul McNamee as one of five Australian players to hold the ATP’s No.1 doubles ranking.
Dream achieved, Ebden climbs to World No. 1⭐️
“I don’t even know if I thought about getting to World No. 1 then. It’s a bit of a pipe dream, that sort of thing, even winning Slams.” @pepperstonefx | #ATPRankings | #partner pic.twitter.com/4BbWgTydvH
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 26, 2024
The 10-time ATP Tour titlist and two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, kicked off his 2024 season by winning the Australian Open title with Rohanna Bopanna, who became the oldest No.1 (at 43) in doubles history shortly thereafter.
“I think it’s truly deserved for Matt to become World No. 1,” Bopanna told ATPTour.com. “Both of us reaching that would not have happened without each other’s support.”
Former singles World No.39 made the decision to focus only on doubles after the pandemic, and his decision has reaped rewards. He won the 2022 Wimbledon men’s doubles title with Max Purcell and entered the Top 10 in July of 2023.
“In the back of my mind, I sort of thought at the end of my career, I might have another little sub-career of five years or more where I could really have a crack at just doubles, and really focus on it, and try and do some great things and try and win some Slams,” Ebden told the ATP. “I don’t even know if I thought about getting to World No. 1 then. It’s a bit of a pipe dream, that sort of thing, even winning Slams.”
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