MELBOURNE, Australia (Diya TV) — India’s tennis veteran, Rohan Bopanna, etched his name in the annals of tennis history by securing the coveted title of the world No. 1 in men’s doubles rankings. At 43 years old, Bopanna has become the oldest men’s tennis player to achieve this milestone, reaching the pinnacle of his career.
This historic achievement unfolded as Bopanna, alongside his partner Matthew Ebden, advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s doubles competition at the Australian Open 2024. The victory not only marked a personal triumph for the Indian tennis star but also brought him one step closer to clinching his first Australian Open title.
Former Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupati, recognizing the magnitude of Bopanna’s feat, expressed his jubilation on Twitter, describing it as “one of the greatest stories in Indian Sport.”
“Rohan Bopanna getting to World Number 1 today after 20 years on tour, in my opinion, is one of the greatest stories in Indian Sport!!!” Bhupati exclaimed on social media.
In an on-court interview following his historic achievement, Bopanna reflected on his journey, acknowledging his previous career-high ranking in 2013 as the No. 3 player in men’s doubles. He expressed gratitude to his team for their unwavering support through challenging moments. Bopanna emphasized the significance of achieving the No. 1 ranking, stating, “You have got to keep going, what can you say? Never hold back.” He also thanked his partner, Matt, for sharing this special moment, making it a fantastic memory.
The path to this historic moment involved a flawless performance by Bopanna and Ebden in the Australian Open quarter-finals. They secured a victory against the Argentine duo of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni, winning the first set 6-4 and triumphing in a tie-breaker in the second set with a score of 7-6(5).
Looking ahead, Bopanna and Ebden are set to face the unseeded duo of Zhang Zhizhen and Tomas Machac in the semi-finals of the competition.
