Melbourne, Australia — Rohan Bopanna, at 43, Indian’s legendary Tennis player became the oldest man to win a Grand Slam doubles title in the Open Era when he played along with his partner Matt Ebden on 27th January, Saturday, for a 7-6 (0), 7-5 comfortable victory over their opponents Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the final match of Australian Open.
He achieved this success in his 61st try and with his 19th partner. His major win was at Roland Garros in 2017 – a mixed doubles title. At Melbourne Park, it was his 17th Australian Open, while Ebden was his 12th partner.
Rohan addressed the Rod Laver Arena audience by saying “You definitely got to know how old I am,”. “I’ve adjusted it slightly, so I now say I’m at level 43 rather than age 43”, bringing a laughter on everyone’s face.
At 79 years old combined, Bopanna and Ebden will be the oldest No. 1 duo in the history of Tennis when they take the top spot in the rankings the following week.
Bopanna, now 43 years, is the oldest to win an Open Era men’s doubles major.
At 43 years and 331 days, he will be the oldest player to be ranked #1 in men’s doubles on Monday. When Mike Bryan’s stint at the top of the Tennis rankings ended in July 2019, he was 41 years and 76 days old.
Bopanna and Ebden were seeded second at Melbourne Park and lost to Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in tie U.S. Open final last September 2023.
Ebden said during the trophy presentation, “What an amazing tournament. Thanks to my partner Rohan, Age really is not even a number for this guy. He is young at heart. He is a champion and a warrior.”
In the eleventh game of the 2nd set, Bopanna and Ebden broke at love, and Ebden went on to win the match after the first set was won in a tiebreaker.
After winning the men’s doubles at Wimbledon two years ago and the mixed title in Melbourne eleven years ago, Ebden was claiming his third Grand Slam doubles crown.
Bopanna joined Leander Paes, who won 8 Grand Slam doubles titles, and Mahesh Bhupathi, who won 4, as the only other Indians to achieve this feat.
Rohan Bopanna's career achievements:
- 2009: Wins his first ATP doubles title with American partner Eric Butorac
2010: Reaches his first Grand Slam men’s doubles final at the US Open with Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
2011: Makes his top-10 debut in doubles.
2012: Wins first Masters doubles title with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi and they finish as runners-up in the ATP World Tour Finals
2017: Wins his first mixed doubles Grand Slam title, partnering Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski in the French Open
2023: Becomes the oldest Masters champion partnering Ebden, was the oldest finalist at a Grand Slam on reaching the final of the US Open, and the oldest player to win a match at the ATP Finals
2024: Bopanna notched his 500th doubles win in the third round of the Australian Open, and at 43 years and 329 days became the oldest man to win a Grand Slam doubles title. On Monday at 43 years and 331 days he will become the oldest world number one in the men’s doubles rankings
Bopanna disclosed during the trophy ceremony, that a few years ago, he had contemplated giving up Tennis.
“I sent a video message saying I was going to call it a day because I was not winning matches at all,” Bopanna, who will split the $730,000 Australian (£377,700) first prize money with Ebden.
“I believed that was the end of my career when I went five months without winning a match. “I believe that my own perseverance is what kept me going. I truly did make a lot of changes and found a lovely spouse who has supported and cheered me in my journey.”
Rohan’s Physiotherapist travelled with him on the tour. During the pandemic break, “Iyengar Yoga” helped a regenerated Bopanna resume playing pain-free tennis, a sport that offered him everything. Bopanna disclosed that he lacked cartilage in his knees in an interview with sports network ESPN prior to the Australian Open championship. Bopanna also remembered a piece of advice from his wife Supriya that changed his life.
One fine day, my wife stated, ‘When you transform limits to opportunities, everything changes.’ We are constantly informed that by the time we are 25, this must occur, and by the time we are 30, this must occur. We are continually reminded of this, whether it is in the context of life or sports, marriage or having children, or anything else. To know more about Rohan Bopanna click here.