"Once you win a Grand Slam, you fall on your back" - Purcell & Ebden on emotions after winning maiden Grand Slam
ATP
Max Purcell and Matthew Ebden finally lifted their first Grand Slam title together at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, and they spoke about their feelings afterward.
At the 2022 Australian Open, Ebden and Purcell had a chance to win their first Grand Slam title. Yet, they were stopped by compatriots Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis in the final of the tournament.
Only a few months later, the Australian duo got another chance at Wimbledon, and they didn't waste it this time. They won an epic five-setter against Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(2).
It was their first Grand Slam triumph, so naturally, both were overwhelmed by emotions. Ebden spoke about how he didn't even dream about winning Wimbledon when he was a kid, but started believing that he could do it recently.
"People say as a kid they dreamed of winning Wimbledon. I don't even know if I did that. I wanted to be a professional tennis player, I wanted to get to the Top 10. I started believing these last years we could win Slams and I could do it."
"But you never know if it will actually happen. To fall on our back and know we've won Wimbledon. I said to [Max], he's only 24 and he's won Wimbledon, I was like, 'If life's done, I'm done. I'm good.'"
"We've tried to win every match in straight sets. Every team since the first round, we've had a bloody tough draw, played unbelievable teams every match. Multiple Grand Slam winners, other title winners. The level of doubles is super strong. We're sitting here [having] won the title, but first round we could have been out with one point. The level is insane."
Purcell was obviously happy about winning the trophy as well, but he also spoke about how they celebrated. He revealed that his father told him previously that falling on the back after winning the title is disrespectful to the opponents, but Purcell admitted that he couldn't influence that.
"My father once told me when he was watching television, you watch guys win Grand Slams, he's like, 'No, it's disrespectful to fall on your back. Shake your opponents' hands first.' That's spoken by a guy who's never won a Grand Slam."
"Once you win a Grand Slam, you fall on your back. The grass feels great on your back. I just did that, kind of rolled over, looked at Matt, he was on the ground. I was like, 'Yes, we have done it.' That's as simple as it was."
