Max Purcell

Matthew Ebden is soaking in Wimbledon glory but a bet with his doubles partner has come back to bite him and his wife isn't happy. James McKern. 2 min read.

They lost the Australian Open final to Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis. After that I made a private little bet with him and I said ‘you know what, if we win Wimbledon I’ll grow a mullet until the Aussie Open’. “I didn’t tell anyone else. Ebden and Purcell pulled off an epic victory in a five-set thriller on Centre Court to to become Wimbledon champions in the men’s doubles. “Heaps said yes, heaps said no. But for Ebden he’ll have a reminder about the stunning victory on the top of his head after revealing a bet he made with Purcell.

Max Purcell and Matthew Ebden claim the men's doubles title at Wimbledon in a five-set epic.

"It was incredible from these guys. Runners-up to Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis in the Australian Open doubles final in January, Ebden and Purcell are the first Australians to reign at the All England Club since Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge won the last of their six Wimbledon crowns 22 years ago. Matt Ebden and Max Purcell have dug deep to join some of the legends of Australian tennis as Wimbledon men's doubles champions.

COMEBACK KINGS! Aussie duo win Wimbledon doubles title in five-set thriller.

They spent more than 20 hours on court in winning the title. “We did that and now we got the trophy.” Ebden and Purcell made the final after saving three match points in the first round and five more in their semi-finals.

Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell are the first all-Australian team to capture a Wimbledon gentlemen's doubles title in 22 years.

“I thought we were out of here in the first round,” Purcell said. This makes them the first Wimbledon champions in any event to save match points in multiple matches. We thought ‘let’s just play on Centre Court and enjoy ourselves’. We did that and now we have got the trophies.” But the Aussies fought back, breaking Mektic in the eighth game to level. Both teams held firm in the high-pressure final stages, forcing a match tiebreak. The second-seeded Croatians had claimed the title at their past four grass-court events.

Matt Ebden and Max Purcell are the first Australian duo to win the Wimbledon men's doubles crown since Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge in 2000.

Even with a big problem, they still just about won Wimbledon. Hopefully we have some more incredibly great battles with you guys and I can’t believe it.” They’ve been the No 1 team the last couple of years and they almost beat us with an injury,” Ebden said. Matt Ebden and Max Purcell dug deep to join some of the greats of Australian tennis as Wimbledon men’s doubles champions.