Indian tennis ace Rohan Bopanna, alongside his doubles partner Matthew Ebden from Australia, secured a coveted spot in the ATP Finals' semifinals. They clinched victory against Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski with a scoreline of 6-4, 7-6(5) in a pivotal Red Group qualification decider on Friday.
The formidable third-seeded Indo-Australian duo showcased a dominant display on serve, commanding an impressive 88 per cent (35/40) points behind their first delivery. Their stellar performance propelled them to a 2-1 record in the Red Group after a solid 84-minute match.
This marks Bopanna's fourth appearance in the year-end event, while Ebden is making a noteworthy debut.
Securing their 40th tour-level win this season, the pair solidified their berth in the knockout stages, joining defending champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury.
Ram and Salisbury, leading the Red Group with a flawless 2-0 record, are set to face the already-eliminated Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler in their final round-robin clash on Friday evening.
Earlier in the week, the 43-year-old Bopanna etched his name in history as the oldest player to claim victory in the tournament's illustrious history. Their partnership, initiated at the season's commencement, has been a triumph, marked by tour-level triumphs in Doha and Indian Wells.
The duo remains in contention for the year-end ATP Doubles No. 1 honors. To surpass the currently top-ranked Dodig and Krajicek, who are already out of the running, Bopanna and Ebden must advance to the final stage in Turin. Koolhof and Skupski, as per ATP Tour regulations, are now out of contention for the season's No. 1 spot.
(With Agency Inputs)
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