Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden, who finished second at the Shanghai Masters, will make their ATP Finals team debut

After falling to Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos in the Shanghai Masters final on Sunday at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna and his Australian men’s doubles partner Matthew Ebden were crowned runners-up.

The Indo-Australian team had to contend with Granollers and Zeballos’ tough channel. Before Rohan and Abden were able to get a crucial break point in the 12th game to grab the lead, both teams were successful in keeping their respective serves in the opening set.

However, the Spanish-Argentinean team gained confidence immediately and swiftly seized a 4-0 lead in the second set before even the match by winning the second set 6-2. In the match tiebreak, they were the more powerful duo, winning on their third match point.

Bopanna has reached three ATP Masters 1000 finals this year. The 43-year-old Indian has previously this year won the Indian Wells Masters championship with Ebden. Bopanna became the oldest ATP Masters winner in tennis history thanks to the triumph.

In Doha, the pair also raised the prize. At the US Open and another Masters 1000 final in Madrid, Bopanna and Ebden both advanced to the finals.

Bopanna and Ebden will, however, take part in the ATP Finals in their first year of partnership. The Australian-Indian team won the Shanghai Masters and advanced to the season finals.

Bopanna will participate in the ATP Finals for the fourth time; his most recent participation was in 2015. His four credentials have all come from other partners. Ebden will make his debut in the season’s conclusion.