Dreams Do Come True
‘Dreams do come true with dedication and perseverance’. This phrase is synonymous with none other than the 43-year-young World No. 1 doubles player and the winner of the Men’s Doubles Australian Open Crown, Rohan Bopanna. The man from Coorg in southern India, Rohan has been the toast of Tennis fans and the Sporting fraternity the world over. Drenched in a deluge of accolades for scaling the peak and becoming the oldest player in tennis history to be ranked no.1, Rohan has been soaking in all the admiration with humility and gratitude.
A Resilient Athlete
Rohan Bopanna was raised in an atmosphere which favoured sports and so it was not long before, that Rohan decided to pursue a life of a sportsman and make a career in Tennis. Leaving the comforts of his home in Coorg, Rohan moved to Pune to join a tennis academy at an early age. Intense focus on sharpening of tennis skills, coupled with a disciplined life, brought out the best in Rohan, as his evolution into a fine tennis player and a rooted individual, began to take shape. In those days training was bereft of the best amenities, but Rohan picked unconventional methods of training, and developed a strong work ethic and a consistent regimen, making him an enduring, resilient athlete.
Tennis Career Takes Wings
Rohan’s tough and disciplined development as a tennis player held him in good stead and played a pivotal role in his long and interesting career. His victory in the National Championships some 22 years ago in Chennai propelled Rohan into the reckoning, post which there was no looking back. He became a regular in the Indian Davis Cup Team and soon developed into a formidable doubles player. He forged a successful pairing with Aisam ul Haq Qureshi on the International Tennis Circuit. Though the pair did not win any Grand Slam but came close on several occasions, not to forget the other tournaments they won on the ATP Tour.
Bopanna and Ebden the victorious pair
An Incredible Doubles Specialist
By the time the pairing of Rohan and Qureshi ended, Rohan was an established doubles player on the ATP tour. His further pairing with Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza too proved to be fruitful in furthering Rohan’s career. As the others departed from the scene Rohan hung on gamely and continued to play doubles. His determination to keep his body fit on the tour served him well and eventually his pairing with Australian Matthew Ebden paid rich dividends, particularly reaching the US Open Final last year and the victory at the just concluded Australian Open.
An Inspiration to Many
To come across someone at the age of 43 competing at the highest level internationally and reaching its pinnacle, in any sport is a rarity. Rohan Bopanna has not only won 25 career titles but has raised the bar and has inspired many in the field of Sport and beyond. His never-say-die attitude and tenacity have been a hallmark of his personality, not to mention his unflinching love for Tennis. Rohan Bopanna is re-writing record books, setting new benchmarks and in doing so is making a nation proud.
Go ‘Pinnacle Man’…Go !!
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Very enriching information and a motivator too
Incredulous that at this age he reaches the pinnacle of glory in this very competitive sport where young budding talents flourish and the seniors have to make way.
That age is no bar for certain ‘ greats’, in the hardes of competitions, has been very pointedly brought out by Riz Khan👌👌.
Thank u for the comments. Really appreciate.