Doubles star Matt Ebden has loads of nice follow tales to share in our “Practice with the Execs” collection.
Perth, Australia, 16 August 2024 | Jackson MansellAustralia’s first Olympic tennis gold medal since 1996.
The inspiring Ebden shares recommendation and remembers a few of his favorite follow reminiscences in our Practice with the Execs collection.
Do you might have a favorite time of day to follow?
Nothing too early, except I’m at house so I must get follow out of the way in which so I can go to the seashore or spend the day with my little child boy who is 2 years previous. Normally, not too early is good. 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 periods look completely different now you might be 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 quick and sharp factors. Serving and explosive energy turns into much more essential.
Do you might 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 primarily based my sport round once I was enjoying singles. Now with doubles, it’s in all probability simply my serve. It’s so essential in doubles.
Do you might have a least favorite a part of your sport to work on?
I really can’t consider one. I get pleasure from making an attempt to grasp the artwork of tennis, so I like practising all kinds of various photographs 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 courtroom is one thing I keep in mind nicely. There was no respiration room. For those who 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 quite a bit 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 prime 50 and nearer to his degree, we practised collectively quite a bit. 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 courtroom with him and it impressed you to actually raise your self. In the meanwhile, I follow quite a bit with my doubles associate, Rohan Bopanna. We follow collectively almost daily once we’re at tournaments.
Are you able to recall any coaching periods once you have been notably nervous?
The primary time I used to be referred to as as much as heat up Roger, was for his semifinal in opposition to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on the Aussie Open (in 2010). I keep in mind strolling on the courtroom and considering ‘oh, I higher hit the ball nicely’.
Is there anybody on tour you’d most prefer to have the chance to hit in opposition to?
Novak Djokovic. I’ve performed a number of instances in opposition to Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal. Roger, I’ve clearly practiced with quite a bit and performed him a number of instances too. So, I’ve bought to know these three massive 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 harm. 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 just’d most prefer to follow with?
I’d positively 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 favored the way in which he performed and his story. Again within the 90s, I had a black-and-yellow Head tennis racquet like him. Once I gained the Australian Open blended doubles title in 2013, he really offered us with the trophy. In order that was a pleasant second.
What recommendation would you share with an aspiring participant eager to maximise their coaching periods?
You must discover enjoyable and delight within the technique of enhancing or working in your sport along with your coach. Folks may suppose 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 lots of of variables within the photographs we play, so that you’ve bought to be keen to work on all the pieces.
Lastly, when you had 5 minutes remaining in a follow session and will do something you want, 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 essential.
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