Explore how Indian tennis legend Rohan Bopanna bids farewell to the national team after Paris 2024. Get the latest updates and insights on his remarkable journey.
Introduction
Rohan Bopanna, an Indian tennis stalwart, called time on his national team duty after the Indian tennis player suffered defeat in the opening round of the men’s doubles event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The decision from the ace tennis player brought down the curtain on an eventful journey that spanned a period of more than two decades.
Early Career and Rise to Prominence
Beginnings in Tennis: The Rohan Bopanna journey in tennis began at Bangalore, where this talented individual hailing from Bangalore showed great talent since his childhood. He spent his childhood in the IRA Club and developed an interest in this sport. His early years were filled with dedication and hard work. He made his international debut after a lot of struggle.
Davis Cup and Initial Success
Bopanna made his debut for the Indian Davis Cup team back in 2002. For the next two decades spanning 21 years, he played a vital role in most of the victories that India registered and went on to become a mainstay of the team. His serve and volley game, coupled with a powerful serve, made him an extremely formidable opponent on grass and hard courts.
See also: Felix Auger-Aliassime’s Historic Victory Over Daniil Medvedev: Paris 2024
Olympic Ventures
London 2012: Bopanna made his first appearance at the London 2012 Olympics, partnering with Mahesh Bhupathi in the men’s doubles. This pair made it to the second round that embraced their prospect at the biggest stage of all.
See also: Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden’s Epic Victory: Securing a Spot in Australian Open 2024 Men’s Doubles Final
Rio 2016: For the Rio 2016 Olympics, Bopanna partnered up with Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles. That pairing came agonizingly close to securing a historic medal but fell just short in the bronze medal match. Besides the pairing with Bopanna, he played in men’s doubles with Leander Paes, India’s only Olympic medallist in the sport of tennis, but was defeated in the first round.
Paris 2024 and Final Olympic Appearance: At Paris 2024, partnering N Sriram Balaji, Bopanna made a first-round exit in the men’s doubles event. This turned out to be Bopanna’s last match representing the national team and sort of completed the full circle of his journey in the Olympics.
Grand Slam Triumphs and ATP Circuit
French Open 2017: 2017 saw Bopanna reach his first Grand Slam title at the French Open, where he won the mixed doubles with Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski. This win showed that he still retained both skill and fighting spirit.
Australian Open 2024: Added to the list of glittering achievements was Bopanna winning the men’s doubles title at the Australian Open in 2024 with Matthew Ebden. At 43 years and nine months, he became the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era and more or less sealed his place in tennis history.
Asian Games Glory
Multiple Gold Medals: Not all of Bopanna’s achievements were limited to the ATP circuit and Grand Slams. He has been a consistent performer at the Asian Games, with gold medals won in 2006 and 2018. His pairing with Rutuja Bhosale in the mixed doubles brought India a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
A Storied Career—Retirement Announcement
Emotionally after retirement, Bopanna said that he genuinely felt proud about having played for the country during so many events throughout almost two decades of his career. “This will definitely go down as my last event for the country”, he went on to add, in reminiscing over his journey from making a debut in 2002 to his final match in 2024.
Staying on the ATP Circuit
Though Bopanna announced his retirement from national duty, he expressed a keen interest in continuing to compete on the ATP circuit. “I totally understand where I am and now I am just going to be enjoying the tennis circuit as long as that goes,” he said, expressing that his love for the sport is unabated.
Impact and Legacy: Inspiration to Later Generations
The career of Bopanna serves as an inspiration to young tennis enthusiasts not only in India but across the globe. His performances established that Indian tennis would be second to none in the global arena and opened the doors for upcoming children who aspire to become international players.
Contributions to Indian Tennis
Apart from his on-court success, Bopanna has contributed substantially to the development of tennis in India. He mentors and supports young talent through his academy and various other initiatives into the sport, hence ensuring that it grows and keeps moving.
Conclusion: Rohan Bopanna Bids Farewell
The retirement of Rohan Bopanna from the national team brings to a close a glorious chapter in Indian tennis. It is the contribution he made on and off the court to the sport that cannot easily be erased. He will now continue his journey on the grueling ATP circuit while his legacy inspires and guides the future of Indian tennis.