ANI
Tennis: The ace player of Indian tennis, Rohan Bopanna laid his hands on his first men's doubles Grand Slam title on Saturday. He became the oldest player to achieve the feat in the Open Era. Nowadays, the sports fraternity finds young champions easily. In the Tokyo Olympics 2021, at the age of 12 Syria's Han Zaza became the youngest of this century to represent his country. However, some athletes have raised the bar to an astonishing level. Australia's equestrian Mary Hanna contested even at the age of 66. She is a six-time Olympian. The tennis fraternity has witnessed Roger Federer, who is unarguably the most elegant player of all time. Remarkably, he played his last competitive match at the age of 41 and clinched his last Grand Slam at the age of 36.
As we tend to slow down, try to substitute for physical decline by using experience and tricks to the wrist and playing more friendlies than highly intense and heart-throbbing matches, attained a dual feat.
Doubles delight 🏆🏆@rohanbopanna 🇮🇳 and @mattebden 🇦🇺 defeat Italian duo Bolelli/Vavassori 🇮🇹 7-6(0) 7-5. @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/WaR2KXF9kp
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2024
Earlier on Wednesday, Bopanna, an Indian man of tenacity, won the quarterfinal at the Australian Open and became the world no. 1 player in the ATP doubles rankings. He also became the oldest player to do so. Following the victory, the world saw Bopanna bursting into a roaring celebration at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, where he claimed his career's maiden men's doubles Grand Slam title. He achieved the coveted title with 36-year-old Australian partner Matthew Ebden.
At the conclusion of the game, images of Bopanna went viral, where he is lying back on the court holding his head in relief and bumping his chest with Ebden. His fist pump through the arena were some of the iconic frames for Indian tennis.
That Grand Slam feeling 🏆#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Azz5KoUdML
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2024
"You know, you definitely, you know, got to know how old I am. I'm sure a lot of people, but I've changed it a little bit and I say I'm at level 43, not age 43 now," said Bopanna holding his maiden men's doubles Grand Slam title on the court. Notably, the average retirement age of Olympic athletes floats between 26 to 28. Over the years, trends have changed and athletes are keeping the focus on legibility. It is a fascinating fact that some of the players have reached their peak in their late 30s, putting their experience over the raw physical attributions.
Back in 2010 and 2023, Bopanna came close to winning the US Open with two different partners but failed to clinch the title. Remarkably, he did taste the success of a Grand Slam victory in 2017 when he clinched the French Open mixed doubles title by pairing up with Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski in mixed doubles. However, he didn't succeed in men's doubles, which he has always considered his forte.
Bopanna was at the lowest point of his fitness level in 2019, when a series of injuries removed the cartilage in both his knees as he entered his forties. But his fighter attitude helped him to fight back to regain fitness. However, Bopanna was frustrated by the lack of wins. After entering in 40s he encountered numerous unwanted questions, which athletes have to deal with. Am I able to do this? Has it been worth it? What will be the impact on the body? Will all the sacrifices be worth it? Should I retire?
During the post-match presentation, Bopanna said, "I know a couple of years ago I sent her a video message and said 'I am gonna call it a day.' Because I was not winning matches at all. I went five months without winning a match. I thought that was going to be the end of my journey."
Look what it means to @rohanbopanna and @mattebden 😍
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2024
At 43, Bopanna has his FIRST Men's Doubles Grand Slam title - and becomes the oldest to do so in the Open Era 👏👏#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/qs0JlrkMO7
He thanked his partner, Supriya, "Perseverance inside me just kept me going. I really changed so many things and found a wonderful partner."
When Bopanna teamed up with former Wimbledon winner Matthew Ebden in 2023, he knew that he could revive the men's doubles scene. They advanced to the US Open final and won the Indian Wells tournament, making it to four Masters 1000 finals. Bopanna and Ebden advanced through the rankings and into the year-end ATP finals thanks to their consistency. It was then that the Indian made history by being the oldest player to win a match at the esteemed ATP Finals. Despite losing the summit clash, Bopanna and Ebden stayed strong and gained confidence. At the Australian Open, it eventually paid off. These days, Bopanna views age as merely a number.
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