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Ebden rounds into French Open form with ATP Challenger title

Australia’s Matt Ebden will hit the French Open in form after taking out an ATP Challenger title in South Korea on Sunday.

The 30-year-old defeated Canada’s Vasek Pospisil 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 in 90 minutes to take out the Busan Open final.

Ebden, the top seed at the tournament, was down 2-5 in the first frame and saved five set points before taking it out with his first opportunity in the tiebreak.

He was never troubled in the second, racing out to a 5-0 lead and securing the US$21,600 win with a love service game.

The title is Ebden’s ninth at the second-tier level and is set to shoot him 12 spots up the rankings to No.73 in the world.

That leap continues his strong rise over the past 18 months, which includes wins over top-20 Americans John Isner and Sam Querrey earlier this year.

Ranked 281st in the world when he lost in the first round of qualifying for the 2017 French Open – albeit 400 places higher than he sat at the beginning of that year – Ebden has since cemented his place in the top 100.

Matt Ebden. Pic: Getty
Matt Ebden. Pic: Getty

He will be joined at Roland Garros by nearly a dozen other Australians.

Nick Kyrgios is racing the clock to be fit as he works his way back from an elbow injury that has lingered for six weeks.

The world No.25 returned home to Canberra last month for treatment, including cortisone, and rehab and is now in Europe racing the clock to be fit for the season’s second slam.

The two-time grand slam quarter-finalist is partnering American Jack Sock in Lyon, the pair scheduled to face Joao Sousa and Federico Delbonis in the first round on Tuesday.

If he makes it to Paris, Kyrgios will be joined in the main draw by John Millman, Matt Ebden, Jordan Thompson and teenage wildcard recipient Alex de Minaur.

Thanasi Kokkinakis, injury permitting after suffering a knee injury in April, and Bernard Tomic plan to contest qualifying.

On the women’s side, Ash Barty, Daria Gavrilova, Samantha Stosur and Ajla Tomljanovic were joined in the women’s draw by the Spain-based 21-year-old Isabelle Wallace, who won a wildcard playoff on Sunday.

Olivia Rogowska, Arina Rodionova, Lizette Cabrera and Priscilla Hon will take part in the qualifying event getting underway at Roland Garros on Monday.

with AAP