The 43-year-old Rohan Bopanna etched his identify within the historical past guide on Saturday as he grew to become the oldest man within the Open Era to clinch a significant males’s doubles crown when he teamed with Australia’s Matthew Ebden to assert the Australian Open trophy.
The 43-year-old Bopanna and Ebden overwhelmed Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6(0), 7-5 to clinch the crown at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. (Rohan Bopanna’s Love Story With Wife Supriya Annaiah, Who’s Become An Internet Sensation – In Pics)
After deciding to retire from the game two years in the past, Bopanna, 43, has completed what most individuals solely dream of. He grew to become the oldest world primary solely three days in the past, and he now owns the report for the oldest Grand Slam champion within the Open Era (since 1968).
To have fun the Indian tennis ace, different Indian sports activities personalities like Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, and Virender Sehwag praised “inspiration” Bopanna for his unbelievable achievement. (WATCH: R Ashwin Outclasses England Captain Ben Stokes With Stunning Delivery During India vs England 1st Test)
After India’s ace tennis participant received the Australian Open males’s doubles crown at 43, legendary cricketer Tendulkar gave Bopanna’s victory for example that anybody’s “moment can arrive anytime, anywhere.”
Your second can arrive anytime, wherever. Just ask @rohanbopanna, who at 43, seized it on the grand stage of the @AustralianOpen. Keep coaching, preserve dreaming and be ready to step up when your time comes. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/WdDGzjfufW
 Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 27, 2024
“Your moment can arrive anytime, anywhere. Just ask @rohanbopanna, who at 43, seized it on the grand stage of the @AustralianOpen. Keep training, keep dreaming and be prepared to step up when your time comes,” Tendulkar posted on X.
Former India opener Sehwag lavished reward on Bopanna for creating historical past.
“What a story. What an inspiration @rohanbopanna. Congratulations on becoming the #AusOpen Doubles Champion,” Sehwag tweeted.
Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur hailed Bopanna’s historic achievement and stated the victory will encourage sportspersons throughout ages.
“Champions: Played Like One & Won it like One Huge applause to @rohanbopanna and @mattebden for clinching their 1st Grand Slam as a duo- #AO2024 Men’s Doubles Title! Rohan Bopanna, defying odds at winning his maiden #AusOpen title & his first-ever Men’s Doubles Grand Slam; Emerging as the oldest man to win a Grand Slam & attaining the pinnacle as the Oldest Men’s Doubles World No. 1 A feat that will inspire our sportspersons across ages! Congratulations once again!” Thakur posted on X.
Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman congratulated “inspirational” Bopanna and stated, “Not age but the spirit that defines us. Many congratulations Rohan Bopanna & Matthew Ebden on winning the Australian Open Doubles title. Truly inspirational @rohanbopanna #AusOpen2024,” Laxman posted on X.
Former India spinner Anil Kumble additionally lauded the tennis ace’s win and wrote, “Heartiest congratulations @rohanbopanna and Matt Ebden for winning the Australian Open Doubles title!”
It is the primary time Bopanna has received a significant title, having misplaced in finals on the US Open in 2010 and 2023.
In the summit conflict, Bopanna and Ebden dominated on serve all through the one-hour, 40-minute match, profitable 80 per cent (40/50) of video games with their first supply and never going through a break level to high off a implausible week.
The 43-year-old is the third Indian man within the Open Era to win a significant males’s doubles title, following Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi. On Monday, he’ll grow to be the oldest top-ranked participant within the ATP Doubles Rankings. This was Bopanna’s second Grand Slam triumph, his first in males’s doubles. His earlier Grand Slam victory got here in combined doubles with Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada on the 2017 French Open.
