Last man standing: By reaching the top when the sport is extra athletic and extra highly effective than ever earlier than, Bopanna has carved a distinct segment for himself and made a long-lasting influence.

In current occasions, Indian tennis hasn’t had many success tales. But prior to now week, it has had two crowning glories, each courtesy Rohan Bopanna.

On Wednesday, along with his quarterfinal victory on the Australian Open, the 43-year-old assured himself of the No.1 spot in world doubles rankings, the oldest man to occupy the coveted place. On Saturday, he gained his maiden males’s doubles Major to turn out to be the oldest to take action.

Sporting excellence within the fifth decade of 1’s life will not be commonplace. It’s a interval when age, together with bodily frailties, makes the tip of the profession really feel nigh, forces athletes to mirror and be nostalgic in regards to the good previous previous, and take into consideration passing on the teachings thus learnt to future generations.

Time, nevertheless, has handled Bopanna with a tenderness that defies cause and logic. He has completed semifinalist or higher in males’s doubles in 4 of the final seven Slams he has entered. In 2023, he competed in any respect 4 Majors, all 9 ATP Masters 1000s, a bunch of ATP 500s and 250s, and in Davis Cup for India.

An ode to consistency

Bopanna might have secured simply two titles final season, however he made eight finals in all, and certified for the season-ending ATP Finals, an ode to his consistency. Modern science and higher vitamin do assist, however to take care of an unreal stage of motivation, have the zeal to coach every day, recuperate and journey the world, whereas all alongside not dropping perspective about issues he can and can't do speaks volumes about his psychological power.

Between Bopanna’s first and second Slam doubles remaining, there was a 13-year hole (2010 US Open to 2023 US Open). Between his two earlier career-high rankings, there was a decade’s hole (No.3 in 2013 to No.3 in 2023). His solely earlier success at Majors got here when he gained the 2017 French Open blended doubles with Gabriela Dabrowski.

Alternative approaches

But the burly man from Coorg has persevered, regardless of being misplaced at occasions in that frightful area between hope and despair. He doesn’t possess explosive athleticism, has shed cartilage in his knees and can't hit the fitness center. So he has turned to yoga for health and swimming for endurance.

If ever there was any doubt that this adjustment would depart him at an obstacle, the Australian Open remaining banished it, as he showcased a full array of highly effective serves, dynamic lunges and razor-sharp reflexes, qualities that collect rust with each passing day.

In India, a doubles practitioner is at all times judged towards impossibly excessive requirements. Where in singles within the final three a long time, simply two gamers have gained back-to-back foremost draw matches at Slams (Leander Paes and Sania Mirza), in doubles there have been three World No.1s — Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania — who've collectively lifted 15 doubles and 21 blended doubles Majors.

Bopanna has one in every class. Yet, by reaching the top when the sport is extra athletic and extra highly effective than ever earlier than, and the format fickle  — with complete units being changed by tie-breakers on the ATP Tour — Bopanna has carved a distinct segment for himself and made a long-lasting influence.