The Australian tennis player Matt Ebden has criticised ageist attitudes in the sport, after he and the 43-year-old Rohan Bopanna won the men’s doubles title at Melbourne Park on Saturday night. At age 36, Ebden helped the Indian veteran win his first men’s doubles grand-slam crown, after the pair defeated the Italian duo of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6 (0), 7-5 in the final on Rod Laver Arena.

Bopanna is the oldest winner of a men’s doubles grand slam in the Open era, and will be the oldest No 1 when rankings are updated in the coming week. Ebden said there was a “lesson” in people writing off those of advancing years, and Bopanna had been subject to discrimination in tennis.

“Guys say: ‘Oh he’s so old,’ ‘too old’ – what I’ve heard in the last year and half – seriously, like: ‘Alright guys, and?’” he said. “Watch how the guy plays tennis, what does age have to do with it?” Bopanna said most young tennis players showed “mutual respect” on the circuit, but he feels older players have much to offer. “I think there’s a lot of wisdom to give back to the youngsters,” he said.

The Australian, who has now won slams at Wimbledon and Melbourne Park in men’s doubles, said there is age-based discrimination across society. “People older than us, we look at [and think] this or that, they shouldn’t get a job or they can’t do that, yada, yada,” he said. “Well, why not? We’re all people, we’re all whatever, and we celebrate all sorts of equality.”

The pair became partners at the start of last year, and reached the US Open final in a successful season that has launched them up the rankings. They share the same number of ranking points, but Bopanna will be No 1 due to Ebden playing three more tournaments over the calculation period.

Bopanna took home the French Open mixed doubles title in 2017, but said that this year’s title at Melbourne Park tops even that achievement. “Without a doubt, [it is] the best moment in my career. There are so many thoughts which are running in the head, it’s as if it’s ready to explode,” he said. “I guess when you win, this is what happens. I’ve ever been on this side of life so it’s nice to do this.”

Ebden said this victory is a highlight, although it’s hard to top his 2022 Wimbledon victory alongside Max Purcell. “I’m not going to lie, Wimbledon is a special place for us as tennis players, we know that,” he said. “But this is equally as good or better, doing it at home with family, friends and home fans in Australia.

He also said it was “pretty awesome” that two players from the region won the tournament dubbed the grand slam of the Asia-Pacific.