Rohan Bopanna in Tennis History: Oldest Player to Attain World No. 1 Status in Men’s Doubles

In a remarkable feat at the Australian Open, Indian tennis veteran Rohan Bopanna and his partner Matt Ebden secured a spot in the men’s doubles semifinals. A victory in the semifinals could make 43-year-old Bopanna the oldest first-time World No. 1 in men’s doubles when the latest ATP rankings are updated on Monday after the conclusion of the Grand Slam tournament.

The Indo-Aussie pair, seeded second, triumphed over the sixth-seed Argentine duo Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) win at the Margret Court Arena. This quarterfinal victory propelled Bopanna ahead of the current World No. 1, USA’s Austin Krajicek, who exited the tournament in the second round alongside his partner Ivan Dodig.

Bopanna and Ebden are now set to face the Czech-Chinese pair of Tomas Machac and Zhizhen Zhang in the semifinals, with the prospect of rewriting tennis history on the horizon.RohanBopanna

Last year, Bopanna made headlines as the oldest man to qualify for a Grand Slam final in the Open era, reaching the final at the US Open alongside Ebden. The dynamic duo continued their success, making it to the final in four ATP Masters tournaments and earning a spot at the ATP Finals in Turin.

Notably, Bopanna holds the distinction of being the oldest player to clinch a men’s doubles title at a Masters event. Achieving this milestone at the age of 43, he and Ebden emerged victorious at Indian Wells last year, adding to the illustrious career of the seasoned Indian tennis player.

As the Australian Open progresses, Rohan Bopanna’s journey becomes a testament to his enduring skill, resilience, and potential to etch his name as the oldest first-time World No. 1 in men’s doubles, marking a historic moment in the realm of tennis.

-IANS