43-year-old tennis player wins Australian Open for the first time

Australia's Rohan Bopanna became the oldest player to win a Grand Slam men's doubles title, when he and Matthew Ebden defeated Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6, 7-5 on January 27.

Bopanna and Ebden won 80% of their first points and did not lose a single service game in their victory in the Australian Open final on January 27. They won all seven tie-breaks at the tournament and will be ranked number one in the men's doubles world next week.

Bopanna (left) and Ebden with the Australian Open men's doubles championship trophy. Photo: ATP — Bopanna (left) and Ebden with the Australian Open men's doubles championship trophy. Photo: *ATP*

At 43, Bopanna won his first Grand Slam men's doubles title. The Indian had previously reached the finals at the US Open in 2010 and 2023, but lost both times. Bopanna will become the oldest male player to hold the world number one doubles ranking.

"This is the best moment of my life," Bopanna said after winning the title on Rod Laver Arena. "I thought about stopping many times, but then I told myself to persevere and enjoy this sport."

Bopanna played 61 Grand Slams before winning the men's doubles title, setting a record. "Age isn't even a number for him," Ebden said of his partner. "He's a young man at heart, a warrior and a champion. He's been fighting with me non-stop all year."

At 43, Bopanna believes he is playing the best tennis of his career. The 6-foot-3 player has one of the best serve and net skills in men's doubles. Bopanna also revealed that the secret to maintaining his strength, flexibility and focus on the court is yoga.

Before Bopanna, Indian tennis had two men's doubles champions, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi. Paes won eight Grand Slam titles, while Bhupathi won four.

Vy Anh

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