Wimbledon: Ebden wins, Isner next
Matt Ebden has translated his sparkling Challenger tour form to the Grand Slam stage, winning a career-first main draw match at Wimbledon.
London, UK, 30 June 2015 | AAP
Unheralded Australian Matt Ebden says he’s ready to create history against Wimbledon ironman John Isner for a spot in the third round – but only if he has to.
Isner, the 208cm American known tour-wide for having one of the scariest serves in tennis, owns a piece of history at SW19 thanks to his extraordinary five-set victory over Nicholas Mahut in 2010.
That time it took 11 hours and five minutes across three days for Isner to prevail 6-4 3-6 6-7(7) 7-6(3) 70-68 in an extraordinary five-set epic.
And Ebden is confident he can go the distance if Isner is ready for a repeat on Wednesday.
“I’m as fit as they come and as fit as I’ve ever been,” the 27-year-old world No.148 told AAP following his 6-2 6-1 6-4 win over Slovenian Blaz Rola on Monday.
“They’re some of my strengths – my movement and speed. Hopefully I don’t have to go that long. But whatever it takes, I’ll do.”
Ebden’s first-round win at the All England Club took his record to 10 wins from his past 11 matches, after his Challenger title in Surbiton and finals finish in Ilkley.
While he’s never ventured into the territory Isner and Mahut covered in their marathon fifth set – and nobody in history ever has – Ebden says he does have five-set match experience, having pushed the likes of Kei Nishikori, Mikhail Youzhny and Mahut in four-hour contests.
He’s also learned a thing or two from the master – Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt, who built a career out of giving his all over five sets.
“I can play the long ones. I had a few of them,” Ebden said.
“I’ve been there and know what they take.
“In Davis Cup doubles I had a five-setter with Lleyton which we won. He showed me a few things.”