Rohan Bopanna, a skilled tennis player from India, is on the verge of achieving the top spot in the men’s doubles rankings, with just one more win needed.
Despite the presence of grey flecks in his beard and his gentle gaze, he doesn’t initially strike one as a dominant figure in the game. However, it should be noted that he will be turning 44 in March.
“I am currently at what I like to refer to as level 43,” he states.
Bopanna and his Australian partner Matt Ebden won their match against Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektić on Monday, securing a spot in the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time. This victory also ensures that Bopanna will have a career-high ranking of at least No 2 by the end of the tournament. If they can defeat the Argentinian duo of Máximo González and Andrés Molteni on Wednesday, Bopanna will claim the No 1 ranking.
Less than a year ago, the Indian athlete achieved the title of the oldest man to qualify for a grand slam final in the Open era. This was during his partnership with Ebden, which resulted in a loss at the US Open final. Bopanna, on the other hand, has been a professional for over 20 years.
He says that there are some players on the circuit who were born after he turned pro, but he is content with his current position.
He credits two factors for his successful period in mid-life.
“I may not have the quickest footwork on the court, but I possess strong mental fortitude,” he states. “I also excel at playing with a single partner.”
Bopanna is a veteran of the Davis Cup and has also achieved grand slam success in mixed doubles. Ebden has also won grand slam titles in both men’s and mixed doubles events.
As the 2022 season neared its conclusion, their respective partners had decided to part ways. This left the two individuals, who had a close relationship from years on the circuit, alone in the players’ lounge at the Paris Masters. In that moment, they made a decision.
Bopanna states that there was mutual agreement between them. He honestly believes they did not have many choices available to them.
They quickly gained popularity. Besides competing in the US Open, the duo made it to the final round in four ATP Masters events, securing a win at Indian Wells, and also competed at the ATP Finals in Turin. Bopanna made history as the oldest player to win a Masters title and also the oldest to win a match at the end-of-season tournament.
Impressive for someone without cartilage in their knees, who nearly quit the game four years ago. However, a disciplined routine of ice baths and massages, coupled with a renewed perspective, is yielding positive results.
I am not simply a journeyman, but I am actively striving for championship titles, performing at the highest level. There is no reason for me to give up.
Returning to Melbourne Park for the 17th consecutive year, he has been accompanied by his wife, Supriya, their four-year-old daughter Tridha, and Supriya’s parents. They are all staying in an apartment close to the tournament grounds. This also means that his courtside box will be occupied as he strives to make history. In addition to his family, he is also joined by his coach of over ten years, Scott Davidoff, and a full-time physiotherapist, Rebecca Van Orshaegen.
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Bopanna explains that there are days when he takes a full day off, but he still needs to ensure that he is properly resting and doing his mobility exercises. He credits Rebecca for helping him stay motivated and avoid laziness during these times.
The former serve-and-volleyer (his knees have limited his ability to rush the net) pursued singles until his late 20s, reaching a peak of 213th in the world in 2007. But he never made the main draw at a grand slam.
Following his initial triumph in doubles in 2008, he steadily progressed and reached the US Open final in 2010 with Pakistani player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi. The duo was known as the “Indo-Pak Express” and promoted the message of “stop war, start tennis”. This accomplishment in 2010 remained his top performance in men’s doubles until last year when he and Ebden made it to the final at Flushing Meadows.
In the years that followed, there were both triumphs and struggles for the individual. He recalls his victory in the 2017 French Open mixed doubles alongside Canadian Gaby Dabrowski as the pinnacle of his career. However, he also faced difficult times as he dealt with knee and back pain, resorting to pain medication. In hindsight, he realizes he was too harsh on himself for not meeting his own standards.
In the year 2019, at a pivotal point in his career and with a young daughter, he still believed he had more to offer despite being 39 years old.
“He expressed that he had to find a solution,” he states. “I firmly believe that my determination and mental fortitude have played a major role in my journey.”
He embraced yoga as a vital aspect of his daily routine, providing him with physical and mental equilibrium. He shared, “It has significantly aided in calming my thoughts and has eliminated any sense of urgency on the tennis court.”
Last week, he achieved his 500th victory in a tour match and is getting closer to earning $10 million in prize money.
This amount of money is significant for anyone, especially for someone who was raised on their parents’ coffee plantation in rural India, 250km west of Bengaluru. He characterizes the environment as “not at all” affluent.
He reflects on the past and the resources available, and is amazed at where he is today.
During his teenage years, he faced rejection for scholarships from Indian academies. However, he persisted and decided to attend a program in Pune, with some financial assistance from loans taken out by his parents M.G. and Mallika.
“At the age of 21, I experienced a string of losses in the first round of matches. However, I had a significant breakthrough when I won a national event in Chennai. This boosted my confidence and ultimately led to my inclusion in the Davis Cup team.”
Reworded: Bopanna’s extensive experience and numerous national appearances have established him as a well-known figure in India. He has utilized his achievements to create a tennis academy in Bengaluru and also holds ownership in multiple ventures, such as a sports marketing company. He expects these ventures to keep him occupied after he eventually retires. However, despite being close to turning 44, he has no plans of retiring anytime soon.
“I find joy in competing and playing the game. I am content with my performance and I am simply enjoying myself,” he reflects, taking a moment to contemplate. “Although, perhaps not during practice.”
Source: theguardian.com
