Matt Ebden has risen to his highest ranking of the year after winning the Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger yesterday.
Competing in his first tournament in Australia this year since the Australian Open, Ebden took 73 minutes to dispatch Jordan Thompson 7-5 6-3.
“It’s good to win on home soil,” Ebden said.
“I always play good tennis in Australia and I love being home.
“[Thompson] has been serving really well and winning plenty of matches, but I was dominant on my serve as well, and the key was to just stay up and aggressive.
“I found my way in a few return games and played a few good points when it mattered.”
Ebden, who turns 28 later this month, has been ranked as high as 61 in the world, has had a successful year on the ATP Challenger circuit, winning a title in Surbiton and making the final in Ilkley.
He qualified at the US Open, and carried the form through to Traralgon this week, winning the title without the loss of a set.
“It was a great way to finish the week,” he said.
“I’ve been working hard since the US Open, and it’s nice to put on five matches in a row here, that’s for sure.”
Ebden now moves to the Nations capital this week where he will contest the Canberra Tennis International.
Seeded number 2, he faces a tough first round match against rising start Omar Jasika.