Rohan Bopanna aces Australian Open, bags Men’s doubles finals in straight sets

On a historic day at the 2024 Australian Open, Rohan Bopanna etched his name in the annals of tennis history as the oldest-ever Grand Slam winner. Partnering with Matthew Ebden, the 43-year-old Indian tennis maestro secured this remarkable feat by defeating the Italian duo of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the men’s doubles final, sealing the victory with a 7-6(0), 7-5 scoreline.

Bopanna’s accomplishment surpasses the previous record held by Jean-Julien Rojer, who clinched the French Open men’s doubles trophy in 2022 at the age of 40. Notably, this victory also marked Bopanna and Ebden’s maiden title as a doubles team, overcoming their loss in the US Open final the previous year.

The Australian Open triumph adds a new chapter to Bopanna’s illustrious career, marking his first Grand Slam doubles victory after an impressive 60 attempts. Previously, his lone Grand Slam win came in mixed doubles at the 2017 French Open alongside Canada‘s Gabriela Dabrowski.

Rohan Bopanna recently became number one in men’s doubles

In a hard-fought final, despite the straight-set outcome, Bopanna and Ebden faced stiff competition. The decisive break of serve occurred in the 11th game of the second set when they capitalised on Vavassori’s serve, securing a love break. Throughout the tournament, the Indo-Aussie pair showcased their prowess in tie-breakers, remaining undefeated and ultimately claiming the title in a memorable tie-break, where they won all seven points on offer to clinch the first set.

En route to this historic victory, Bopanna also ascended to the No. 1 ranking in men’s doubles, making him the oldest player ever to hold the top spot for the first time. This remarkable achievement solidifies Bopanna’s enduring contribution to tennis and serves as an inspiration to athletes globally, showcasing that age is no barrier to success on the grand stage of Grand Slam tennis.