Underdogs Matt Ebden and Max Purcell have pledged to crash the Special Ks’ party as they vie to become the first home men’s doubles winners at the Australian Open in more than two decades.
Canberra’s Nick Kyrgios and doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis are hardly the Woodies – who claimed the last of their two titles at Melbourne Park in 1997 – but they have captivated the sporting nation on their run to their first grand slam final.
Doubles suddenly has box office value again, and an all-Australian final on Saturday only adds to the theatre.
Enigmatic showman Kyrgios looms as the protagonist, while the comparatively low-key Edben and Purcell believe the intense spotlight on their opponents could work to their advantage.
“The pressure is on them for sure. They’ve had pressure on them their whole lives,” Ebden said.
“They love the show and all that. We know exactly what they can do. We respect how they can play.
“We have to find out way to counter that, do what we do.”
The match-up has been compared to one-day international cricket matches between Australia and Australia ‘A’ in the 1990s, when the second XI notably enjoyed more public support as the underdog.
Which way the crowd leans on Saturday will be an intriguing sidenote, though players on both sides of the divide have been quick to play down any suggestions of a rivalry.
Kyrgios was typically straight to the point, describing the all-Australian match-up as “f***ing awesome” and highlighting other success stories, such as Ash Barty and Dylan Alcott reaching finals, as cause for local fans to celebrate.
Kyrgios won three grand slam junior doubles titles, including Wimbledon with Kokkinakis in 2013, and the Special Ks are Saturday’s favourites with bookmakers.
“We know what we’re capable of when we play together, playing with good energy,” Kokkinakis said.
“It’s going to be a really tough match. I don’t know if we’re favourites or not. I wouldn’t say so.
“They play doubles every week. They’re real polished at net, really great doubles players.
“It’s obviously going to be tough but I think if we play how we’ve been playing, play with that energy, hopefully feed off the crowd again, play relaxed and free, we can do well.”
While Ebden prepares for one of the biggest moments of his tennis career, he does so knowing that he is likely to miss the birth of his baby son in Perth.
The 34-year-old had planned to return when Western Australia’s borders were due to re-open on February 5, before Mark McGowan’s government backflipped on its decision.
“The border rules changed last week since I’ve been here (in Melbourne) and, yeah, my wife’s not very happy,” Ebden told 6PR radio.
“(It’s the) same as many other Australians out there missing their families, loved ones, births, funerals.
“It’s just horrible … I’m on the first flight out on Sunday but have to go into hotel and home quarantine and potentially miss the birth, which is terrible.”
Purcell is aiming for his first grand slam title after he and Luke Saville lost the final of the 2020 men’s doubles at Melbourne Park to Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury.
Ebden claimed the Open mixed doubles crown with Jarmila Gajdosova in 2013.
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