In a historic moment for Indian tennis, Rohan Bopanna, the veteran of the sport at 43 years old, has etched his name in the record books by securing the assurance of becoming the oldest first-time World No. 1 in ATP men’s doubles rankings. This remarkable achievement came on Wednesday following Bopanna’s outstanding performance in the men’s doubles quarterfinals at the 2024 Australian Open. Partnering with Australia’s Matthew Ebden, the duo secured a compelling 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory against the Argentine pair of Máximo González and Andrés Molteni.
Bopanna’s journey to this historic moment included surpassing the record set by Rajeev Ram of the USA, who had achieved the No. 1 ranking in October 2022 at the age of 38. This latest accolade marks a significant milestone in Bopanna’s illustrious career, adding another chapter to his already impressive tennis legacy.
The quarterfinal match at the Australian Open unfolded with a brief delay due to bubbles on the court caused by overnight rain in Melbourne. Undeterred, the Indo-Aussie pair displayed exceptional skill, closing out the first set with a 6-4 victory after breaking Gonzalez’s serve in the fifth game. The second set saw both teams facing challenges, leading to a tie-break. Bopanna and Ebden, maintaining their perfect tie-break record in Melbourne, secured the win after a brief stutter, ultimately claiming victory with two stunning returns.
This victory propelled Bopanna to the semifinals at the Australian Open for the first time in his 17 consecutive appearances at Melbourne Park since his debut in 2008. It marked a significant improvement from his previous best, a third-round finish achieved six times in his career, the last being in 2018.
The impending World No. 1 crown for Bopanna, set to be announced in the fresh ranking list on Monday after the final, comes almost four months after he became the oldest man to reach a Grand Slam final in the Open Era. This occurred in September at the US Open, where he and Ebden narrowly missed the title.
Bopanna’s victory at the Australian Open also completes his set of at least a semifinal appearance at all four Grand Slam tournaments. Over his career, he had made quarterfinal runs in 2011, 2016, 2018, and 2021, reaching the semis at Roland Garros in 2022 and achieving three semifinal appearances at Wimbledon (2013, 2015, 2023). Additionally, he made the final twice at the US Open in 2010 and 2021.
The journey towards a potential Grand Slam trophy in men’s doubles continues for Bopanna and Ebden as they face unseeded pair Zhang Zhizhen of China and Tomáš Macháč of the Czech Republic in the semifinals. If successful, Bopanna, who turns 44 in March, would become the oldest player to secure a Grand Slam men’s doubles title, further solidifying his legacy in the sport.
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