Last Updated:
At 43, Rohan Bopanna became World No. 1 and a Grand Slam champion. Now retired, he’s focused on shaping the future of Indian tennis.
Rohan Bopanna (AFP)
At a stage when most players step away from the game, Rohan Bopanna stepped into the best phase of his career.
At 43, an age considered far beyond the prime years of professional tennis, he rose to World No. 1 in men’s doubles, lifted the Australian Open trophy, and stretched the imagination of what longevity in sport could look like.
Ask him if this makes him a disruptor of age stereotypes, and he answers with the simplicity of someone who never played for labels.
“I look at it as an opportunity to keep playing at the highest level and not think of age as a barrier. I’ll stop when I feel right, when I don’t want to travel or live out of a suitcase. And when I was playing at the highest level, there was no reason for me to stop,” Bopanna stated in a conversation with CNN News18.
More than six months into retirement, Bopanna’s life has found a calmer rhythm back home in Bangalore. He speaks with warmth about the time spent with his family and the energy he has poured into the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy.
“It’s been absolutely beautiful, spending time at home with my wife and daughter, being at the academy. I see there’s so much to give back. I want to be accessible to players, to parents, and give guidance wherever possible.”
He knows the challenges within Indian tennis intimately because he grew through them. They shaped him, and now he wants to help reshape the system.
“The challenges that came along defined me. First, we need more children playing tennis. Access to courts is important. India needs more youngsters picking up the sport and enjoying the journey before anything else,” he says.
He works closely with the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association and believes more states must follow suit, citing Maharashtra’s example in hosting tournaments.
“If more states come together and bring events to India, it will change the system,” said Bopanna on the sidelines of the Tennis Premier League Principal Partner Announcement Event in Mumbai.
Despite his many highs, he doesn’t shy away from reflecting on unseen lows. “You can overcome any hurdle, break it down, see what you can do better, what you’re doing well, and belief will follow. Hardships shouldn’t be a full stop. Ask what you can improve and come back stronger,” added Bopanna.
His eyes light up when talking about India’s next generation, many of whom he mentors directly. He proudly mentions 17-year-old Aradhya Kshitiz, who earned his first ATP point this week.
“He was unsure whether to play a junior event or his first professional tournament. I told him, if it’s in Bangalore, you should go play ATP. Small guidance can change journeys.”
He also praised the tremendous potential of youngsters like Srishti Kiran, Gensee, and Maya — girls who are only 14 and already showing promise — and spoke highly of India’s rising men, from Karan Singh to Manas and the next line of Davis Cup contenders.
Competing at the absolute pinnacle of his sport, Bopanna proved that age is just a data point, not a boundary. His journey is a masterclass in relentless discipline and perseverance.
Through all of this, one force has carried him: his mind.
“It’s my biggest strength. My mind always believed I could do it. I first convince myself something is possible, and only then can I convince the world,” says the two-time Grand Slam-winning champion.
His advice to young players and their parents is simple but grounded in decades of experience.
“Enjoy tennis first. Before thinking about how far your kid will go, find the right academy and invest in your child. That’s what shapes their journey,” he says.
When asked how he wants to be remembered, his answer is far from rankings and trophies.
“As someone who was accessible to every tennis player in the country. Someone who helped change Indian tennis for the better and gave every athlete a chance at a better future,” added Bopanna, beaming.
For a man who reached his peak at 43, won a Grand Slam in the supposed twilight of his career, and then returned home to help build India’s tennis tomorrow, perhaps that legacy has already begun.
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
