Rohan Bopanna is turning back the clock.
Already 41 years old in the spring of 2021, Bopanna considered retirement. Following his first-round exit in Estoril, he had lost seven matches in a row with six different partners to begin the season. It would have been the end of an illustrious career that included a mixed doubles Grand Slam title at the 2017 French Open but no major win in men’s doubles.
It’s a good thing Bopanna decided otherwise.
Putting the exclamation point on a career resurgence well into his 40s, the 43-year-old Bopanna captured his first slam title in men’s doubles when he and Matthew Ebden defeated Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6(0), 7-5 in the Australian Open final on Saturday night.
And it was no fluke, either. In fact, Bopanna has been so good and so consistent over the past 12 months that he–and Ebden–will officially climb to No. 1 in the world when the new rankings come out on Monday.
“What an amazing tournament,” Ebden said. “Thanks to my amazing partner. He is 43 years old; this is his first men’s Grand Slam doubles title. Age is not a number for this guy; he is young at heart. He is a champion and a warrior. He has fought hard alongside me the past year and I am forever grateful to him.”
For the Bopanna-Ebden duo, last year featured a semifinal showing at Wimbledon and a runner-up performance at the U.S. Open (lost to Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in three sets). It was the Indian’s second slam runner-up result in men’s doubles (previously 2010 U.S. Open) and heading into this fortnight he had reached semifinals a total of seven times in addition to quarterfinals on seven other occasions.
Now, he is finally over the hump.
“For me, without a doubt (it’s) the best moment in my career,” Bopanna commented during his press conference. “I mean, there is so many–so many–thoughts which are running…the head is like as if it’s ready to explode.
“The No. 1 thought which comes to my head is to not really have limitations. We set ourselves those limitations. You know, as human beings, we have goals. Then when we don’t achieve that quickly or at a time frame, we think that’s the end of that journey…. I had thoughts of quitting and stopping. But to just persevere and enjoy what I was doing I think (is) the best thing I told myself.”
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