India’s tennis veteran Rohan Bopanna is in the semi-finals of the Australian Open with his doubles partner Matthew Ebden and has conquered number one in the doubles world rankings – at almost 44 years old.
On this occasion, a look back to 2002, when Rohan Bopanna made his debut as a tennis professional on the ATP tour. The world rankings were led by Lleyton Hewitt, with players like Tommy Haas and Andre Agassi in the top ten. Roger Federer was considered a young, aspiring star. All tennis greats who have long since enjoyed their well-deserved retirement.
Bopanna, who will celebrate his 44th birthday in March, is still active – and very successful: With his semi-final entry at the Australian Open on Wednesday (January 24th, 2024), alongside his Australian partner Matt Ebden, He will be listed as the new number one in the doubles world rankings from next week.
New number one in doubles – at 43 years old
“Being number one is every player’s dream. This is even more true for me after being here for two decades“, said Bopanna after the 6:4, 7:6 (7:5) win against the Argentines Maximo Gonzales and Andres Molteni. He was very grateful, he said in the interview in the Margaret Court Arena. He also wanted to do it for tennis to give something back to sport in India, the development of which is still progressing slowly: “Tennis in India needs this.”
24 ATP wins, but no Grand Slam title yet
Bopanna is at the top of the rankings for the first time in his career spanning more than 20 years. He has already collected 24 tournament victories on the ATP tour in doubles. He is still waiting for his first major title – he could now achieve this in Melbourne alongside Ebden, the 2022 Wimbledon doubles winner. The duo recently made it to the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament three times in a row. Bopanna also thanked his doubles partner in Melbourne and praised the “great durability” of the joint work over the past 13 months.
Last March, Bopanna won with Ebden at Indian Wells – becoming the oldest player to triumph at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament. The previous age record was held by Daniel Nestor, one of Bopanna’s former doubles partners, who is no longer active.
Bopanna also spoke in Melbourne about wanting to inspire many others. “Not just in tennis – people all over the world who are 40 and older.”
Bopannas Secret of success: Lots of regeneration and Indian coffee
When asked how he managed to still play at the highest level at the age of almost 44, he repeatedly talked about his origins. His family runs a coffee plantation in Coorg in the Indian state of Karnataka. He always brings the local coffee with him on tour; this is his secret to success, he said – perhaps only half-jokingly.
Above all, he pays a lot of attention to sufficient regeneration. His knees were badly affected after more than 20 years on the professional tour, Bopanna told Reuters. He has virtually no cartilage left in both knees. Last year he hired a Belgian physiotherapist and together they developed a special training program: “No weight lifting, no treadmill, just one less training session“, says Bopanna. The focus is completely on the matches,”I want to feel 100 percent fit.” This strategy has worked very well in Melbourne so far.
Marcel Stober, Sportschau, January 24th, 2024 7:37 a.m