History stands on the line for Rohan Bopanna. The 43-year-old is on a record-breaking spree and wishes to topple yet another record. After becoming the oldest World No. 1 in tennis history and being just the fourth Indian to clinch the top spot, Bopanna looks to become the oldest men’s doubles Grand Slam champion in the Open Era (from 1968).
Australian Open 2024 Final Live: Rohan Bopanna-Matthew Ebden vs Simone Bolelli-Andrea Vavassori play by play
6:00 PM: Bopanna has done it. He’s become the oldest World No. 1 in the history of men’s doubles tennis. They beat Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6(0), 7-5 to win his maiden doubles Grand Slam title.
5:55 PM: Bopanna and Ebden break. They’ll serve for the match in the next game.
5:54 PM: Bopanna and Ebden are smelling blood. One point away from a first break of the match.
5:52 PM: Bopanna holds under pressure; it’s 5-5 after 1 hour and 33 minutes.
5:48 PM: Bopanna will serve to stay in the second set. It’s 4-5 after 1 hour and 28 minutes.
5:44 PM: Good hold by Ebden; it’s 4-4 in the second after 1 hour and 24 minutes.
5:40 PM: The Italians continue to fight back. After dropping two points and going to deuce, Vavassori serves his way out. It’s 3-4 after 1 hour and 20 minutes.
5:34 PM: Another clinical hold for the No. 2 seeds. It’s 3-3 after 1 hour and 14 minutes.
5:32 PM: Bopanna to serve at 2-3 in the second.
5:28 PM: The great serving trend continues. Ebden holds and levels things up, 2-2 after 1 hour and 8 minutes.
5:21 PM: No breaks of serve so far in the match. It’s 1-1 after an hour and two minutes.
5:17 PM: The Italians that the first game of the second set with ease.
Second Set
5:11 PM: Bopanna and Ebden bagel the Italians in the tiebreaker. They take the first set, 7-6(0).
5:10 PM: It’s 6-0 at the change of ends in the tiebreaker. The No. 2 seeds look in complete control.
5:09 PM: Incredible serving; it’s 5-0 in the tiebreaker.
5:09 PM: Bopanna and Ebden on fire, it’s 4-0 in the tiebreaker.
5:08 PM: Bopanna and Ebden take the double minibreak; it’s 3-0.
5:06 PM: Into the tiebreaker, we go. It’s 6-6 after 47 minutes.
5:03 PM: Incredible from Ebden under pressure. He saves two break points and takes the No. 2 seeds into the lead once again.
4:54 PM: The Italians are not buckling under pressure. From 0-30 down, they take the game. It’s 5-5 after 35 minutes.
4:52 PM: The No. 2 seeds are smelling blood here. A great volley by Bopanna takes them just two points away from the set.
4:50 PM: It’s 5–4 after 30 minutes. The Italians will serve to keep themselves in the first set.
4:48 PM: It’s 4–4 after 29 minutes.
4:44 PM: Ebden and Bopanna are in full flow, an easy hold for the no. 2 seeds. It’s 4–3 after 25 minutes.
4:41 PM: A quick hold from Bolelli, 3-3 after 22 minutes.
4:40 PM: So far, the number two seeds are clearly ahead. The unseeded Italians are still battling nerves.
4:38 PM: Bopanna holds in just two minutes. It’s 3-2 after 18 minutes.
4:36 PM: The Italians are clearly under pressure, but Vavassori still holds. 2-2 after 16 minutes.
4:34 PM: The No. 2 seeds have a break-point chance and saved from Vavassori.
4:29 PM: A great serving game from Ebden; it’s 2-1 after 10 minutes.
4:26 PM: Bolelli and Vavassori save a break and put themselves on the board, 1-1 after 7 minutes.
4:21 PM: Impeccable serving from the Indian to take the first game.
4:20 PM: Here we go, Bopanna, to serve.
First Set
4:16 PM: Although this will be the two opponents’ first meeting in doubles, Bopanna has faced Bolelli in singles before. The two went toe-to-toe in 2006 at the Halle Open, with the Indian passing through in straight sets.
4:14 PM: Bopanna and Ebden win the toss and will serve first in the final.
4:11 PM: The players are making their way into the court. Huge cheers for Bopanna and his Australian partner, Ebden.
4:05 PM: This will be the first-ever meeting between Bopanna-Ebden and Bolelli-Vavassori.
4:00 PM: Despite being 43, this is just the second men’s double Grand Slam Final Bopanna has reached. He reached his first-ever final last year at the US Open.
3:50 PM: Rohan Bopanna will enter the final with a lot on the line. He’ll be aiming to win his first-ever men’s doubles final and become the oldest men’s doubles Grand Slam champion.
3:46 PM: Rohan Bopanna will enter the final with a lot on the line. He’ll be aiming to win his first-ever men’s doubles final and become the oldest men’s doubles Grand Slam champion.
3:40 PM: Bopanna and Ebden’s opponents for the Final are Italian duo Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori. The unseeded duo have made their way to the final beating the 8th and 12th seeds.
3:32 PM: Aryna Sabalenka has won the Australian Open 2024 without dropping a set. In about 30 minutes, the men’s doubles final will be underway.
3:15 PM: Bopanna and Ebden have dropped just two sets on their way to the Australian Open 2024 final.
3:05 PM: Right now, it seems like Aryna Sabalenka is in a hurry to get the men’s double final underway. She leads Qinwen Zheng 6-3, 2-1, in just 47 minutes.
2:55 PM: Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden will be in action after the conclusion of the ongoing Women’s Singles Final at the Rod Laver Arena.
2:45 PM: Welcome to the coverage of the Australian Open 2024 men’s doubles Final.
Rohan Bopanna: Road to the Australian Open 2024 Final
Round 1: defeated James Duckworth and Marc Polmans [7-6(6), 4-6, 7-6(2)]
Round 2: defeated John Milman and Edward Winter [6-2, 6-4]
Round 3: defeated Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic [7-6(8), 7-6(8)]
Quarterfinal: defeated Máximo González and Andrés Molteni [6-4, 7-6(5)]
Semifinal: defeated Zhang Zhizhen and Tomas Machac [6-3, 3-6, 7-6(7)]
Final: Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori (yet to face)