Melbourne, Australia –India’s Rohan Bopanna, at the age of 43, etched his name in tennis history by claiming the Australian Open men’s doubles title alongside his Australian partner Matthew Ebden. On Saturday, the dynamic duo vanquished the Italian pair of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6(0), 7-5, scripting a fairytale ending to a career filled with near misses.
Bopanna, a veteran of 20 Grand Slam doubles appearances, had twice before fallen just short of Grand Slam glory, reaching the US Open finals in 2013 and 2023. But on the sun-kissed courts of Melbourne, the Indian ace finally broke through, silencing any doubts about his enduring prowess. This victory not only marks Bopanna’s maiden Grand Slam title in men’s doubles but also makes him the oldest player ever to win a Grand Slam doubles championship in men’s tennis, eclipsing the previous record held by Jean-Julien Rojer (40) who won the French Open in 2022.
The road to victory was far from smooth for the second-seeded Indo-Aussie pair. The match, lasting over an hour and a half, was a tense affair characterized by razor-sharp serves and fierce baseline battles. Only one break of serve, courtesy of a Vavassori double fault in the second set, separated the contenders. But Bopanna and Ebden capitalized on their limited opportunities, converting crucial break points when they mattered most.
Bopanna’s triumph transcends personal glory, etching his name into the annals of Indian tennis. He becomes the third Indian player ever to win a Grand Slam men’s doubles title, joining Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi in this elite club. This historic victory sends a message to aspiring young players back home, proving that age is just a number when fueled by unwavering passion and relentless pursuit of excellence.
Bopanna’s Australian Open win is a testament to his unwavering dedication and enduring love for the game. It’s a story of perseverance, defying age and doubters, and etching his name in the history books. The victory stands as an inspiration not just for aspiring athletes but for anyone chasing their dreams, proving that age is no barrier to achieving greatness.
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