Australian doubles team formed by Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson had to dig deep to beat second seeds Marcell Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 7-6 (16-14) 6-3 at the Nitto ATP Finals. Purcell and Ebden finished second behind Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten in Mike Bryan Group with a 2-1 record to book their spot in the semifinal.
They have become the first all-Australian team to reach the semifinal at the Nitto ATP Finals since Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde.
Purcell and Ebden earned an early break in the first game of the second set. Granollers and Zeballos broke back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4.
Granollers and Zeballos went 2-4 in the tie-break, but they were unable to convert any of their own four opportunities. Purcell and Ebden converting their sixth opportunity to win the marathon tie-break 16-14.
Purcell and Ebden broke serve at love in the second game of the second set to open up a 3-0 lead and held their next service games en route to seal their 41st tour-level win on their second match point after 97 minutes.
“We have both incredible years, and when you are trying to toss up doubles and singles, it’s so tough on the body. We have just done our body. We have probably over 50 matches together, so that tells you we are doing something right”, said Thompson.
Purcell and Thompson’s win ended Granollers and Zeballos’ hopes of reaching the semifinals.
