Another Australian Open title looked to be on the cards for the Aussie pair, but instead, they have been dealt a crushing defeat at Wimbledon.
Heartbreak in Halle
Matt Ebden and Max Purcell had match points in their hands against top seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in the final of the Halle Open just last week.
However, the Croatians fought back to win 5-7, 6-3, 10-8 in a tense match tie-break.
Early Wimbledon exit
The disappointment continued at Wimbledon, where the Australian duo was knocked out in the second round by unseeded pair Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
The Aussies had a 5-2 lead in the third set and were just two points away from victory.
But the French pair fought back to win 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-2).
Missed opportunity
Ebden and Purcell have been one of the most consistent doubles teams on the ATP Tour in recent months.
They won the Australian Open in January and have reached the semi-finals of two other tournaments this year.
But they have now lost their last two matches in heartbreaking fashion.
What next?
The Australian pair will now turn their attention to the US Open, which begins in late August.
They will be hoping to put their Wimbledon disappointment behind them and make a strong run in New York.
But they will need to improve their mental toughness if they want to challenge for another Grand Slam title.
Kind regards E. Thompson.
