Australian Open: Rohan Bopanna becomes oldest World No. 1 in men’s doubles after storming into semi-finals

India’s Rohan Bopanna scripted history on Wednesday, January 24 becoming the oldest player to become World No. 1 in men’s doubles tennis history.

At 43, Bopanna is assured of the No. 1 spot at the end of the Australian Open as the Indian star and his Australian partner Mathew Ebden reached the semi-finals of men’s doubles in Melbourne.

Getting better and better with age, Rohan Bopanna entered the Australian Open with a career-high ranking of No. 3 and now the seasoned Indian campaigner is assured of becoming the new No. 1 when the rankings will be updated next week. Mathew Ebden, who has been one of Rohan Bopanna’s most successful partners, is assured of reaching the No. 2 spot in men’s doubles rankings.

Rohan Bopanna and Mathew Ebden confirmed their move in the ATP Rankings after they defeated 6th seeds Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 6-4, 7-6 (5) in an hour and 46 minutes in the men’s doubles quarter-final of the Australian Open on Wednesday.

Bopanna and Ebden’s doubles match began on Court 3, but it had to be shifted to the bigger Margaret Court Arena due to court condition issues — bubbles were spotted on Court 3 leading to uneven bounce as the match was moved after 3 games to the famous Margaret Court Arena.

Bopanna, who is eyeing his maiden men’s doubles Grand Slam crown, reached the semi-final of the Australian Open for the first time, thanks to his sensational partnership with Ebden.

Second seeds Bopanna and Ebden will face unseeded Tomas Machac and Zhizhen Zhang in the semi-finals. The Czech Republic-China pair defeated 3rd seeds and US Open champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in the 2nd round earlier last week in Melbourne.

NEAR-PERFECT SHOW IN QUARTERS
Rohan Bopanna and Mathew Ebden did not drop a serve in the opening set as they did not drop a beat on Wednesday morning. The Indo-Australian pair, which started slow and was made to work hard in the previous rounds in Melbourne, looked in the zone and fired up as they did not miss out on opportunities to put the Argentine duo under pressure.

They were trailing 1-2 when the court was changed, but the Margaret Court Arena proved to be good for Bopanna and Ebden as they got used to the bigger court with ease. With 84 percentage points won on first serve in the first set, the Indo-Australian pair wrapped up the first set 6-4.

The chemistry between Bopanna and Ebden was evident as the two players communicated with each other clearly and produced some moments of magic. Bopanna was impeccable with his serves and hit some delightful winners off both his forehand and backhand from the back of the court.

Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni got better and better as the match progressed as they did not drop a game in the second set and forced a tie-breaker.

In the tie-breaker, Rohan Bopanna and Mathew Ebden were a double mini-break down, but they fought back to reel off three successive points from 4-5 to win the set and the match. The calmness under pressure from Bopanna and Ebden paid off as the duo moved one step closer to realising their dream.

HOW BOPANNA BECAME WORLD NO. 1?

Rohan Bopanna and Mathew Ebden have been one of the most consistent pairs on the tour over the last 12 months. Bopanna and Ebden reached the final of US Open 2023, their best result so far in Grand Slams.

The 2023 season for the pair began on a high note when Bopanna and Ebden clinched the title at the Qatar Open in February. Their synergy on the court was evident as they outplayed their competitors to secure the championship. The momentum continued as they went on to achieve a historic victory at the Indian Wells tournament in March. Here, Bopanna made headlines by becoming the oldest player to win an ATP Masters 1000 title, showcasing his enduring skill and vitality in the sport.

The pair demonstrated their prowess by reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon in July, a testament to their consistent performance and tenacity. Although they did not lift the trophy, their journey to the semi-finals was a significant highlight of their 2023 season.

Throughout the year, Bopanna and Ebden showcased their exceptional talent and determination. They also made a mark at the ATP Finals, where they reached the semi-finals before facing defeat.