Doubles star Matt Ebden has loads of nice follow tales to share in our “Practice with the Execs” sequence.
Perth, Australia, 16 August 2024 | Jackson Mansell
At age 36, the enduring Matt Ebden is reaching new heights in his profession.
The Perth athlete gained the Australian Open 2024 males’s doubles title alongside Indian Rohan Bopanna and shortly after rose to world No.1 within the ATP Tour doubles rankings.
The unforgettable 12 months turned even higher when Ebden teamed up with compatriot John Friends in Paris to scoop Australia’s first Olympic tennis gold medal since 1996.
The inspiring Ebden shares recommendation and recollects a few of his favorite follow reminiscences in our Practice with the Execs sequence.
Do you may have a favorite time of day to follow?
Nothing too early, except I’m at dwelling so I must get follow out of the best way so I can go to the seaside or spend the day with my little child boy who is 2 years previous. Basically, not too early is right. I like to have the ability to get up, have a pleasant espresso and breakfast or brunch with my household then follow late morning or early afternoon.
Do your coaching classes look totally different now you’re specializing in doubles?
With doubles I don’t want to coach as lengthy, it’s not a lot about endurance and operating to have the ability to final 5 units at Grand Slams. The main target is extra on power, in addition to brief and sharp factors. Serving and explosive energy turns into much more vital.
Do you may have a favorite a part of your sport to work on?
My serve and my forehand, in addition to my web sport and attacking actions, was what I based mostly my sport round once I was enjoying singles. Now with doubles, it’s most likely simply my serve. It’s so vital in doubles.
Do you may have a least favorite a part of your sport to work on?
I really can’t consider one. I take pleasure in attempting to grasp the artwork of tennis, so I like practising all types of various pictures and techniques.
Are you able to recall the primary skilled participant you had the chance to follow with?
I don’t know if it was the primary one ever, however the greatest one which involves thoughts is Lleyton Hewitt. I completed highschool in Perth once I was 17 and the Hopman Cup was all the time there. He was world No.1 on the time, and I used to be simply beginning on my journey, so I used to be a hitting associate on the occasion. He may see I used to be eager to coach the home down, so he requested me to heat him up for all of his matches. That was my first foray into hitting with a world-class athlete. The depth of Lleyton and Rochey (coach Tony Roche) on the court docket is one thing I keep in mind properly. There was no respiration room. In case you missed one or there was a winner, Rochey would already be feeding the subsequent ball in.
Who’ve been your favorite hitting companions on tour?
There’s been rather a lot over the previous 15 years. Hitting with Roger Federer was all the time extremely particular. I bought to heat him up on the Australian Open once I was actually younger after which once I was high 50 and nearer to his stage, we practised collectively rather a lot. We each performed Hopman Cup in Perth a number of years in the past and spent every week coaching and enjoying follow units. It’s unimaginable what he can do with the ball, so it was all the time a pleasure to be on the court docket with him and it impressed you to essentially raise your self. In the meanwhile, I follow rather a lot with my doubles associate, Rohan Bopanna. We follow collectively practically each day after we’re at tournaments.
Are you able to recall any coaching classes whenever you have been notably nervous?
The primary time I used to be known as as much as heat up Roger, was for his semifinal towards Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on the Aussie Open (in 2010). I keep in mind strolling on the court docket and pondering ‘oh, I higher hit the ball properly’.
Is there anybody on tour you’d most prefer to have the chance to hit towards?
Novak Djokovic. I’ve performed a number of instances towards Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal. Roger, I’ve clearly practiced with rather a lot and performed him a number of instances too. So, I’ve bought to know these three huge guys very well and play them in singles. However I’ve by no means performed Novak in singles, we by no means crossed one another in a draw. I used to be meant to play him in doubles on the Paris Masters on the finish of 2023, however they needed to withdraw from our second-round match as his associate had a wrist damage. Then on the United Cup in Perth in January, we have been meant to play him within the blended doubles. However he didn’t find yourself enjoying as we’d already gained the tie.
Is there anybody from tennis historical past that you simply’d most prefer to follow with?
I’d undoubtedly prefer to hit some balls with Andre Agassi. He was my favorite participant rising up and I modelled my two-handed backhand like him. I preferred the best way he performed and his story. Again within the 90s, I had a black-and-yellow Head tennis racquet like him. After I gained the Australian Open blended doubles title in 2013, he really introduced us with the trophy. In order that was a pleasant second.
What recommendation would you share with an aspiring participant desirous to maximise their coaching classes?
You need to discover enjoyable and delight within the strategy of enhancing or working in your sport together with your coach. Individuals would possibly assume that tennis is simply forehands and backhands – however there’s a lot to work on. There are serves, second serves, second serve returns. There are slices, volleys, motion. There’s offense and protection. There are a whole bunch of variables within the pictures we play, so that you’ve bought to be keen to work on the whole lot.
Lastly, in the event you had 5 minutes remaining in a follow session and will do something you would like, what would you select?
Most likely some reflex volleys. The final couple of years since transitioning from singles to doubles, the reflex volleys have turn into extremely vital.
> READ MORE: From our “Practice with the professionals” sequence
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