Ebden falls short in Sydney

Updated January 07, 2013 18:45:31

Australian wildcard entry Matthew Ebden has been knocked out in the first round of the Sydney International in a tough three-set loss to Spain's Marcel Granollers.

The 25-year-old Perth native started strongly and looked headed for victory before the world number 34 re-took the momentum and eventually the match 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 in 2 hours 21 minutes.

Ebden - ranked 105 in the world - was a set and a break up at 5-4 in the second set, but Granollers summoned a big effort to take the next three games and level the match.

Granollers then broke Ebden's serve and held his own to go 3-1 up in the deciding set.

The crucial fifth game then went to five deuces as the Spanish player tried to strike again for a decisive double break.

Ebden saved a number of break points before finally losing the game to go 4-1 down.

Granollers held his serve again before breaking the Australian for the third time to take the set and the match.

Earlier, another Australian wildcard James Duckworth bowed out following a tight three-set struggle against Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.

The 20-year-old Duckworth, ranked 209 in the world, won the first set before Istomin finally triumphed 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).

It was an encouraging showing from Duckworth against Istomin, who beat Lleyton Hewitt en route to making the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International last week.

Fifth seed Florian Mayer of Germany accounted for Joao Sousa of Portugal 6-1, 6-1.

In the women's draw, Serbia's former world number one Jelena Jankovic defeated Austria's Tamira Paszek 6-2, 7-6(7-5) and Italy's Roberta Vinci upset eighth-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova 7-5, 7-5.

Tags: tennis, sport, sydney-2000

First posted January 07, 2013 13:52:01

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Ebden, Gajdosova handed Brisbane wildcards

Updated December 12, 2012 13:44:46

Matthew Ebden has been rewarded and Jarmila Gajdosova boosted by wildcard entries into the Brisbane International tennis tournament after starkly contrasting seasons.

South African-born, Perth-based Ebden enjoyed a breakthrough year in which he reached a career-high ranking of 61 in October.

"The year 2012 was good in a few ways. I won some of my first grand slam matches and played in the main draws of all the slams," said Ebden, currently the world number 105.

"I also won some of my first Davis Cup matches and debuted ... and won by far the most tour matches through the whole season that I have ever done."

For Gajdosova, the wildcard into the December 30 to January 6 Brisbane International is a much-needed shot in the arm in an injury-ravaged 2012 in which her ranking has dropped 150 places to 184.

Slovakian-born Gajdosova looked forward to joining a women's field boasting eight of the world's top-10 players.

"It means a lot. I can't thank enough the Brisbane International and Tennis Australia for giving me this opportunity to start my comeback and new year playing main draw at such a great event," Gajdosova said.

"I've been working hard this off season - also had some time off, so I am very excited to come back home and play in front of my home crowd.

"I feel healthy and happy and hope all my hard work on and off the court will show."

Brisbane International director Cameron Pearson said the pair was a logical pick for selectors.

"They want to know that they can play at that level and certainly both Matty and Jaka can," he said.

"They both make themselves available for our national teams - the Fed Cup team and the Davis Cup team - so they were certainly always high on the list as wildcards too."

ABC/AAP

Tags: tennis, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted December 12, 2012 11:12:55

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Ebden advances in Atlanta

Updated July 20, 2012 07:47:41

Australia's Matthew Ebden remained alive in the draw at the Atlanta Open following a three-set defeat of American veteran James Blake.

Ebden, ranked 82 in the world to Blake's 110, triumphed 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-4.

He has booked a place in the quarter-finals where he will meet Luxembourg's Gilles Muller, who progressed after American second seed Mardy Fish was forced to retire in the second set of their match.

Fish was leading 6-4, 3-2 when he withdrew.

Tags: tennis, sport, united-states

First posted July 20, 2012 07:47:41

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Ebden through in Atlanta

Updated July 18, 2012 13:39:54

Australia's Matthew Ebden won through to the second round after beating Ukrainian Sergey Bubka Jr at the Atlanta Open.

Ebden, ranked 82 in the world, triumphed 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.

He will play James Blake in the second round after the American veteran upset sixth seed and countryman Ryan Harrison 1-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Ebden's fellow Australian Marinko Matosevic exited the first round on Tuesday (AEST).

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First posted July 18, 2012 11:50:24

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Stosur, Ebden advance at Indian Wells

Updated March 11, 2012 14:51:03

Sixth seed Samantha Stosur has breezed past American wildcard Irina Falconi 6-0, 6-3 in her second round match at the WTA/ATP Indian Wells tournament.

Australia's number one will face Nadia Petrova in the third round after she also progressed in straight sets beating Lauren Davis 6-3, 6-2.

Her win capped a good day for Australian tennis after Matthew Ebden scored an upset victory over Frenchman Julien Benneteau 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Ebden, who is the world number 91 - 58 places below Benneteau - will face Mardy Fish in the third round.

Defending champion and world number Novak Djokovic defeated qualifier Andrey Golubev 6-3, 6-2 in a second-round match.

Djokovic moved through to the third round, where he will face South African Kevin Anderson, who won in a walkover when German Philipp Kohlschreiber withdrew earlier in the day.

"It was a good start," Djokovic said.

"We didn't play a beautiful match. There were a lot of unforced errors but it was the opening match and I am still trying to adjust to this court and get used to the conditions. Hopefully the next match will be better."

World number one Djokovic, who came into Indian Wells last year riding a win streak that he eventually stretched to 41 matches, is now 11-1 on the season.

Elsewhere, former world number one Ana Ivanovic avenged last year's first round loss at Roland Garros by routing Johanna Larsson in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.

Ivanovic broke Larsson's serve five times, including three times in the opening set. She had three aces and four double faults and posted a 67 per cent success rate on first-serve points in the centre-court match.

Four years ago, Ivanovic won at Indian Wells then went on to capture the French Open title.

Ivanovic advances to the third round, where she will face either Peng Shuai or Ksenia Pervak.

AAP/AFP

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First posted March 11, 2012 13:03:25

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Aussie Ebden bows out in Sydney

Updated January 11, 2012 17:12:38

Australia's last hope at the Sydney International tennis has made a gallant exit from the tournament.

Wildcard Matthew Ebden lost a third-set tiebreaker against former champion and Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis.

Baghdatis battled back from dropping the first set to prevail 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) after two hours and 12 minutes in hot and windy conditions to book a last-eight showdown with top seed Juan Martin Del Potro in tomorrow's quarter-finals.

After enjoying a first-round bye, Del Potro scored a routine 6-4, 6-2 win over Lukasz Kubot at Sydney Olympic Park on Wednesday.

Argentina's 2009 US Open champion, ranked number 11 as opposed to number 485 this time last year when he returned in Sydney from wrist surgery, was delighted to win his belated first match of the year.

Despite the tournament commencing on Sunday, del Potro had to wait four days for a start and was relieved to advance.

"It was really tough conditions," he said.

"But I just was really focused on my serve basically in the first set and then tried to take a little opportunity because it was really difficult to play long rallies, to feel the ball like I wanted.

"It was really tough, but finally I won anyway.

"I did well today; tomorrow I need to play better because my opponent will be really tough as well."

Second seed John Isner became the first big casualty from the men's draw with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 second-round loss to fellow American Bobby Reynolds.

After progressing through the qualifying draw, Isner's conqueror Reynolds faces Finnish left-hander Jarko Nieminen, who ousted eighth-seeded Czech Radek Stepanek 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 6-1.

French third seed Richard Gasquet outclassed Fabio Fognini 6-2, 6-1 and will meet Uzbek qualifier Denis Istomin, a 6-2, 6-1 victor over American Ryan Sweeting.

Defending champion Li Na is the first player through to the women's semi-finals after beating Lucie Safarova in straight sets.

After cruising through the first set, China's world number five was forced to a tiebreaker by her Czech opponent in the second but eventually wrapped up the quarter-final clash 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).

Last year's French Open champion and Australian Open finalist Li will now meet the winner of Wednesday night's centre court clash between world number two Petra Kvitova and Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova.

Third seed Victoria Azarenka will take on France's Marion Bartoli later on Wednesday, while world number one Caroline Wozniacki battles Poland's seventh-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the last women's quarter-final match.

AAP

Tags: sport, tennis, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted January 11, 2012 17:08:20

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Ebden shocks Spaniard in Sydney

Updated January 09, 2012 21:07:36

Australian Mathew Ebden has won through to the second round of the Sydney International with a three-set upset over seventh seed Marcel Granollers.

Wildcard entrant Ebden beat the Spaniard 6-1, 3-6 6-3 to set up a possible showdown with crowd favourite Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the second round.

World number 97 Ebden, who suffered a first-round exit at last year's tournament, got the double break to race to a 5-1 lead in the first set and duly served it out at 6-1.

But the tables were turned in the second set when the world number 28 found his rhythm, getting the early break and racing to a 3-0 lead.

Ebden saved three set points on his serve at 5-2 down and held on to win the game, but Granollers squared the match at one set apiece soon after.

The Australian had two break points at 2-1 up in the third set, but lost the first one with an error while Granollers saved the second with a timely ace, his eighth of the match.

But after Ebden surged ahead 4-2 and stepped up to serve for the match at 5-3, he converted his first match point to seal the shock result.

"I'm very glad to be through," Ebden said.

"I think I can make a lot improvements still, which is a good thing. I don't think I played probably my best tennis.

"I was close last week, and this week it was three sets again, but I'm glad it was me in the winner's seat this time.

"With the first win of the year, I think it'll give me confidence and just get on that winning roll again."

Earlier on Monday, Florian Mayer was the first withdrawal from the men's draw when the German sixth seed pulled out with a hip injury.

He was replaced by American Ryan Sweeting, who made the most of his call-up by beating Gilles Muller 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, while Finland's Jarkko Nieminen downed Australian teenager James Duckworth 6-2, 6-2.

Fellow Australian Lleyton Hewitt will be in action on centre court on Tuesday when he takes on Serbian Viktor Troicki.

AAP

Tags: tennis, sport, sydney-2000

First posted January 09, 2012 20:31:20

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Ebden departs Brisbane International

Updated January 03, 2012 17:18:38

Australian number two Matthew Ebden crashed out in the men's first round of the Brisbane International on a black day for the local hopes.

World number 86 Ebden lost in three sets to sixth seed Radek Stepanek, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, joining compatriots Ben Mitchell and John Millman on the day three casualty list.

Stepanek, 33, might never appear on a Brisbane International promotional poster but the crafty veteran always seems to put on a star turn at the combined ATP-WTA event.

He won the inaugural 2009 men's final before making the 2010 decider and reaching the semi-finals last year.

His awkward style has not stopped Stepanek endearing himself with the Brisbane crowd, winning them over ever since celebrating the 2009 title with a spot of breakdancing.

But there were mixed emotions on Tuesday as Stepanek held out Ebden in a match lasting more than two hours.

South African-born Ebden, 24, bounced back from losing a tight first set by racing to a 3-0 lead in the second which he clinched in 41 minutes.

But he was broken in his first service game of the third.

Ebden fought hard to stay alive as sixth-seed Stepanek blew three match points in the eighth game.

But Stepanek - the oldest player in the world top 50 - was not to be denied.

It was still an encouraging display by Ebden, who began 2011 ranked 196th but climbed to a career-high number 79 after reaching the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters.

Other Australian hopes Millman and Mitchell also lost in the first round on Tuesday.

Wildcard Mitchell was downed 6-4, 6-2 by Japanese qualifier Tatsuma Ito while qualifier Millman lost to Colombia's Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-3.

Men's fifth seed Kei Nishikori had a scare before overcoming German Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in their first-round clash.

In the women's draw, second seed Andrea Petkovic cruised into the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (7-2), 6-0 win over Czech opponent Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.

Former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, the third seed, is also through after downing Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva 6-4, 6-4 in the second round.

AAP

Tags: tennis, sport, brisbane-4000

First posted January 03, 2012 17:18:38

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Aussie Ebden opens Tokyo account

Updated October 03, 2011 23:02:53

Australian qualifier Matthew Ebden progressed to the second round of the Japan Open in Tokyo.

Ebden edged past Spain's Pablo Andujar in three sets, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-4.

Meanwhile, American number one Mardy Fish had to dig deep before beating promising compatriot Ryan Harrison to reach the second round.

The fourth-seeded Fish, who was 0-2 down in the first two sets, finally pulled through 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 against the up-and-coming 19-year-old.

Fish broke back in the fifth game of the deciding set thanks to Harrison's double fault on a break point and then moved up to 6-5 with another break.

He squandered two match points, but made no mistake at the third attempt, firing a forehand shot down the line for a clean winner.

Ranked eighth in the world against Harrison's 80th, Fish will take on either Ernests Gulbis of Latvia or Lukasz Kubot of Poland in the second round.

Seventh seed Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic, who reached the semi-finals last year in Tokyo, had no problem, beating Somdev Devvarman of India 6-4, 6-3.

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, japan

First posted October 03, 2011 22:17:17

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Aussie Ebden chalks up Newport win

Posted July 6, 2011 11:26:00

Australia's Matthew Ebden is through to the second round of the ATP Hall of Fame Championships in Newport with an upset win over fourth seed Ryan Sweeting.

Ebden knocked off the American 6-4, 6-2 and next takes on unknown German Mattias Bachinger.

John Isner, top seed for the first time in an ATP World Tour event, also had an easy passage through to the next round, dismissing Slovakian Karol Beck 6-3, 6-2.

It was the big American's first ever win in the tournament following two consecutive first-round exits.

He is bidding to become the first top seed to take out the tournament since Vijay Amritraj claimed the inaugural edition way back in 1976.

Isner next takes on veteran Frenchman Arnaud Clement, who eclipsed last year's quarter-finalist Ryan Harrison 6-4, 6-1.

Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, a finalist in 2007, crushed Argentine Sebastian Decoud 6-1, 6-0 to book a second-round clash with sixth seed Olivier Rochus of Belgium.

Meanwhile at the WTA Swedish Open, Australia's Olivia Rogowska bowed out 6-2, 7-5 at the hands of Italian second seed Flavia Pennetta.

Top-ranked Dane Caroline Wozniacki advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of France's Alize Cornet.

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Aussie Ebden into Newport quarters

Updated July 7, 2011 13:20:00

Australia's Matthew Ebden advanced to the quarter-finals of the Hall of Fame Championships in Newport after a three-set win in the second round.

Ebden took down unknown German Matthias Bachinger 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to set up a last-eight clash with Belgian Olivier Rochus.

The sixth seed recorded a 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.

Top seed John Isner of the United States eliminated Arnaud Clement 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 and next takes on compatriot Alex Bogomolov Jnr, who beat Belgian Ruben Bemelmans 2-6, 6-0, 6-1.

The other two quarter-finals will pit France's Edouard Roger-Vasselin against eight-seeded German Tobias Kamke and American qualifier Michael Yani against compatriot and wildcard Denis Kudla.

Meanwhile, top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki retired from her second-round match at the Swedish Open against local favourite Sofia Arvidsson because of a shoulder injury.

Wozniacki won the first set 6-2 and lost the opening game of the second when she was forced to quit.

Second-ranked Flavia Pennetta progressed with a 6-2, 6-3 defeat of Germany's Angelique Kerber.

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First posted July 7, 2011 13:00:00

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Nadal sees off Aussie qualifier Ebden

Posted June 9, 2011 06:07:00

Rafael Nadal had no problems making the switch from clay to grass courts as the French Open champion beat Australian qualifier Matthew Ebden 6-4, 6-4 at Queen's overnight.

Nadal was last seen four days ago swathed in a Spanish flag as he celebrated his record-equalling sixth French Open title after another victory over his old rival Roger Federer.

There was little time to savour that latest success on the crushed earth of Roland Garros however and, after a quick trip to EuroDisney, Nadal has set his sights on successfully defending his Wimbledon crown.

The rapid change of surfaces at this time of year has troubled many great players in the past, but Nadal copes with remarkable ease.

He won back to back French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2008 and 2010 and made the Eurostar train journey from Paris to London firmly believing he can tie Bjorn Borg's record of three French-Wimbledon doubles.

Nadal, who was given a first round bye, rarely needed to get anywhere near his best against such a raw opponent as 23-year-old Ebden, who is ranked 168th in the world and has spent most of his career playing in Futures and Challenger tournaments.

Back on grass for the first time since beating Tomas Berdych in last year's Wimbledon final, Nadal quickly stamped his authority on Ebden by breaking in the first game.

He served out the first set and then broke again in the opening game of the second before cruising through to a third round meeting with Czech veteran Radek Stepanek, who beat 16th seed Ivan Ljubicic 0-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Meanwhile, Andy Murray also made a winning start to his grass-court campaign as the world number four defeated Belgium's Xavier Malisse 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

Murray, seeded second, sustained an ankle ligament injury during his run to the French Open semi-finals that briefly threatened his participation in a tournament he won in 2009.

But with the start of his home grand slam at Wimbledon just 11 days away, Murray, who was given a first-round bye, will be encouraged that he was able to last the distance in a tough test against the experienced Malisse.

Although this was hardly a vintage display from the British number one, he had no obvious problems with his ankle and showed plenty of spirit to set up a clash with Serbian 14th seed Janko Tipsarevic.

"It was tricky. The court is very slow for a grass court," Murray said.

"I managed to turn it around in the end and I moved pretty well considering it was the first match. It's good to get through.

"The ankle was all right. It was a little bit sore at times but it's getting better every day."

Despite wearing a brace on the ankle, Australian Open finalist Murray was moving well enough and some wayward ground-strokes from Malisse allowed him to build a 3-1 lead before a brief rain delay.

Murray had to save two break points following the resumption and after that fright he swiftly finished off the set.

After Murray wasted three break points at 5-5 in the second set, Malisse hit back to break and level the match.

But, aided by a pair of wild forehands from Malisse, Murray broke for a 2-1 lead at the start of the final set.

He had to save two break points at 3-2 and that was Malisse's last chance as Murray served out the match.

Next up for Murray is the talented but erratic Tipsarevic, who defeated American Michael Russell 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5).

Elsewhere in the second round, South African 15th seed Kevin Anderson set up a third-round clash with four-time champion Andy Roddick after a 6-2, 6-4 win against American youngster Donald Young.

Croatian eighth seed Marin Cilic eased through to the last 16 with a 6-4, 6-4 win against French qualifier Arnaud Clement.

- AFP

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Aussie Ebden to play Nadal

Updated June 8, 2011 07:00:00

Australian qualifier Matthew Ebden earned a shot at world number one Rafael Nadal, thanks to his 7-5, 6-3 win over India's Somdev Devvarman at Queen's, while four-time champion Andy Roddick defeated Feliciano Lopez in three tight sets.

Ebden, who was born in South Africa, has spent most of his short career playing on the unglamorous Futures Tour and is ranked 168th in the world.

But the 23-year-old will be mixing with tennis royalty in west London on Thursday (AEST) when he takes on Nadal in the Spaniard's first singles match since winning his sixth French Open crown in Paris.

Nadal arrived in London late on Monday just 24 hours after his final victory over Roger Federer to begin preparations for the defence of his Wimbledon title.

And his first opponent will be the unheralded Ebden, who secured an impressive victory over Devvarman even though the Indian was 101 places above his opponent in the ATP rankings.

Perth-based Ebden had been in good form of late, reaching the latter stages at Nottingham and Cremona, and he edged a tight first set before pressing home his advantage with a break late in the second set to clinch the win.

Elsewhere at the Wimbledon warm-up event, Roddick started his bid for a record fifth title with a hard-fought 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 win against Spain's Feliciano Lopez in the second round.

Third-seeded Roddick, who was given a first-round bye, had been troubled by an injury to his right shoulder in recent months and was forced to miss the French Open as a result.

The three-time Wimbledon finalist had lost in the first round in each of his past three tournaments, with his ranking down to 10th as a result, and needed all of his grass-court savvy to get past Lopez.

After taking the first set in a tie-break, Roddick found Lopez in no mood to surrender and the Spaniard won the second set in another breaker.

Roddick looked in danger of an early exit when he fell a break down in the final set, but he hit straight back to level at 2-2.

The 28-year-old was finally able to see off his persistent opponent when Lopez sent a forehand long on Roddick's third match point.

"I felt great on the grass. I came over here to win Wimbledon, but I'm trying to win this tournament too," Roddick said.

Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro enjoyed a winning return to grass, as the Argentine beat Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-2 in the first round.

Del Potro, 22, was playing his first match on grass since Wimbledon in 2009, after missing most of the 2010 season with a serious wrist injury.

"I played really well after two years away from this surface," del Potro said.

"For South American players, it can be difficult on grass, but I want to learn and improve my game because I know the best players in history won on grass."

Reigning champion Sam Querrey kept his title defence on course, as the American 13th seed secured a 7-6, 5-7, 6-3 win against Germany's Rainer Schuettler in the second round.

Next up for Querrey is British wildcard James Ward, who sprang a surprise with a 7-6, 6-3 victory over Stanislas Wawrinka, the Swiss fourth seed, ranked 202 places above his opponent.

Ward's compatriot Andy Murray learned that he will play Xavier Malisse in the second round after the Belgian's 6-4, 6-4 win over Germany's Matthias Bachinger.

Japan's Go Soeda suffered a miserable Queen's debut as the world number 130 was beaten 6-1, 6-3 by veteran Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.

Argentine ninth seed and former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 first round win against the Ukraine's Illya Marchenko.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the French fifth seed, demolished Germany's Michael Berrer 6-0, 6-1, while Spanish seventh seed Fernando Verdasco also advanced to the third round with a 6-2, 6-3 win against France's Nicolas Mahut.

- AFP

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First posted June 8, 2011 06:07:00

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Ebden earns match-up with Nadal

Published:Wednesday, June 8, 2011 7:02 AEST

Matthew Ebden eyes the ball during his men's singles first round match against Somdev Devvarman on day two of the AEGON Championships at Queens Club on June 7, 2011.

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