Australian duo Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell have created history by winning the 2022 Wimbledon Men's Doubles title, defeating No. 2 seeds Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) in the final.
The Aussies became the first Wimbledon champions in any format to save match points in two separate matches en route to winning a title at the All England Club.
Ebden and Purcell's campaign was nearly over in the first round, but the Aussies scraped through, coming from two sets to love down and saving three match points to make it through to the second round.
Even Purcell was convinced their tournament was all but over at the first hurdle: “I thought we were out of here in the first round. We (faced three match points) and we just won Wimbledon. How good is that?” he said in their post-match press conference.
The pair's run got no easier after the first round, winning both their second and third round matches in five sets as well.
After winning their quarterfinal match in straight sets, Ebden and Purcell once again had their backs against the wall in the semis, but astonishingly came from two sets down and saved five match points to defeat No. 1 seeds and two-time slam champions Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram.
After coming from two sets to one down in the final, and 2-4 in the deciding set, Ebden and Purcell ended the tournament having spent more than 20 hours on the court together over the fortnight. Remarkable.
“They have been the number one guys for the last year, the last two years, and they almost beat us with an injury,” Ebden said on Panic & Mektic, post-match.
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling. I can’t believe it,” Ebden said.
“It’s further than a dream come true. I suppose it’s a goal or a plan or a belief come true. But, yeah, it feels amazing. To be out there over four hours, 7-6 in the fifth set, finish a Wimbledon final with a match tiebreak. It was insane.
“A lot of the crowd were loving it. They were telling us at the end when we were walking around they were entertained. What a fitting end for a Centre Court, Wimbledon final. (It’s) stuff you dream of," Ebden said.
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