Rohan Bopanna bows out at 45! Oldest No. 1 in men’s doubles wraps up 20-year career

BENGALURU: Tennis’ poster boy for longevity Rohan Bopanna bowed out of the competitive arena at the age of 45. Bopanna, a two-time Major winner — 2024 Australian Open men’s doubles and 2017 Roland Garros mixed doubles — holds the record for a series of oldest marks, including Grand Slam champion, world No.1 and Masters 1000 champion. He was 43 and counting when he got there.

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Bopanna, who didn’t shy away from the retirement question from TOI at the US Open in August, where he played his final Grand Slam, saying it was a possibility, took to social media on Saturday to bid goodbye to the sport. He amassed a 539-410 career win-loss record in over two decades as a professional.

At the ongoing Paris Masters, he partnered with Kazakh Alexander Bublik.

The 6 ft 4’ Kodava began his post by going back to his roots, Madapur, a small town in Coorg. That he fought his way from there to play and win on some of the sports’ grandest stages should rank as his most inspirational achievement.

“How do you bid farewell to something that gave your life its meaning?” he wrote in his post, “After 20 unforgettable years, it’s time, I’m officially hanging up my racquet. Starting my journey from a small town in Coorg, from chopping wood to strengthen my serve, and jogging through coffee estates to build stamina, to standing under the lights of the biggest arenas in the world — it feels surreal.”

“I may be stepping away from competition, but my story with tennis isn’t over. I want to give back to help young dreamers from small towns believe that their beginnings don’t define their limits,” he wrote. “That with belief, hard work, and heart anything is possible.”

He added: “This isn’t goodbye... it’s a thank you to everyone who shaped me, guided me, supported me and loved me.”

Bopanna, whose Davis Cup record stands at 22–27 (singles 10–17 and doubles 12–10), said, “Representing India has been the greatest honour of my life, every time I stepped on court, I played for that flag, that feeling, that pride.”

HIGH POINTS

• 2-time Grand Slam champion (men’s doubles and mixed doubles): 2024 Aus Open men’s doubles champion (with Matthew Ebden) 2017 RG mixed doubles champion (with Gabriela Dabrowski).
• 6-time GS finalist (thrice in doubles, thrice in mixed-doubles) l Oldest world No. 1 (Jan 2024) l Oldest Grand Slam champion (Aus Open, 2024) l Oldest Masters 1000 winner (2023 Indian Wells).
• 26 Tour-Level titles l Highest singles ranking: No. 213 (23 July 2008)

Catch Lovlina Borgohain's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 5. Watch Here