India’s tennis champ, Rohan Bopanna, made history at the Australian Open. At 43, he’s set to be the oldest first-time World No. 1 in ATP men’s doubles. Bopanna and his partner, Matthew Ebden from Australia, secured this feat by winning against the Argentine pair of Máximo González and Andrés Molteni in the quarterfinals.
Despite a small delay due to rain in Melbourne, Bopanna and Ebden won the first set 6-4. The second set went to a tie-break, where they excelled, maintaining their perfect record in tie-breaks during the tournament. They clinched victory with some impressive moves, securing a spot in the semifinals.
This achievement is especially significant for Bopanna, who has been competing in Melbourne since 2008. It’s his first time reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open, surpassing his previous best of a third-round finish. The win also guarantees Bopanna the No. 1 ranking when the new list comes out.
This success follows Bopanna’s record as the oldest man to reach a Grand Slam final in the Open Era, achieved at the US Open in September. Having turned pro over 20 years ago, he has now completed his set of at least a semifinal appearance at all Grand Slam events.
In the upcoming semifinals, Bopanna and Ebden will face the unseeded pair of Zhang Zhizhen from China and Tomáš Macháč from the Czech Republic. If they win, Bopanna, who turns 44 in March, could become the oldest player to win a Grand Slam men’s doubles title, adding another remarkable chapter to his tennis legacy.
