Rafael Nadal and Rohan Bopanna
Rafael Nadal, one of the best tennis players of his generation, congratulated Rohan Bopanna on social media after the Indian maestro won the Australian Open Men's Doubles title with partner Matthew Ebden. Bopanna produced arguably the best week of his career as he lifted his first Grand Slam men's doubles title while becoming the oldest player to reach the No. 1 ranking. Nadal took to Instagram and posted a story congratulating the 43-year-old, writing: “Congratulations Rohan on an amazing and unique performance!!!!”.
Rafa Nadal congratulates Rohan Bopanna after becoming the oldest man to win a Grand Slam in the Open Era. pic.twitter.com/A6EJFEg7cG
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 28, 2024
With the men's doubles title at the Australian Open, Bopanna also became the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title.
In the top clash on Saturday, Bopanna and Matthew Ebden dominated on serve throughout the one-hour, 40-minute match. They won 80 percent (40/50) of games with their first throw and did not get a break point to top off a match. fantastic week.
The duo defeated Italy's Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in straight sets 7-6, 7-5 in a thrilling encounter.
Bopanna, who made his 17th Australian Open appearance this edition, comfortably claimed his first Grand Slam title in men's doubles. At 43 years and 329 days, he also became the oldest Grand Slam champion.
The Indian tennis player is also the third Indian man in the Open Era to win a major men's doubles title after Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi. On Monday he will become the oldest top player in the ATP Doubles Rankings.
This was Bopanna's second Grand Slam victory, his first in men's doubles. His previous Grand Slam victory came in mixed doubles with Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski at the 2017 French Open.
With ANI inputs
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