Rohan Bopanna’s historic Grand Slam win will go down in history but it also throws open a plethora of questions. Rohan Bopanna had created a stir in India following his Australian Open doubles glory last weekend.
If truth be told, for many it was hard to believe that it was Bopanna’s first doubles grand slam win. Bopanna turned pro way back in 2003. Doubles and mixed doubles are the only categories where Indians have done well in the last couple of decades with Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza racking up one important trophy after another.
It was hard to believe that in India’s golden period, Bopanna couldn’t somehow be part of any grand slam-winning doubles team, be it with an Indian or non-Indian partner. Although, he has won the French Open in mixed doubles in 2017.
Anyway, the Indian, in the company of Aussie Matthew Ebden, won his first doubles grand slam at the 2024 Australian Open at the age of 43 years and 329 days. He won his first doubles grand slam in his 61st attempt. He also became the oldest man to win a doubles grand slam. For a country whose performances in team events have debilitated in recent years since the retirement of the famous trio, it was a big deal. Indian fans as well as the media rejoiced in Bopanna’s triumph like there was no tomorrow.
In singles, India is kind of at its worst at present. Even reaching the second round of a grand slam is a big deal like Sumit Nagal’s performance at the Happy Slam. So it’s totally understandable why everyone was united in celebrating Bopanna’s exploits. But the fact of the matter is Indian tennis is going through a terrible phase which can be understood through the Paris Olympics, to be held in July-August later this year.
As of now, there is only one category in which the Indians are assured of participation. That’s men’s doubles where Bopanna needs to choose his partner post the French Open. “Definitely, it’s going to be great that we have a representation in the men’s doubles. Who I’m going to play with is yet to be confirmed. June is the deadline, so I need to pick a partner. Mixed doubles will not happen because there is no girl ranked high enough to qualify. The only event currently guaranteed is men’s doubles,” Bopanna said after winning the Australian Open.(HT)