Bopanna Retires: Masterclass in Perseverance

Rohan Bopanna has officially retired from professional tennis at the age of 45, drawing the curtain on a 20-year career defined not just by titles, but by sheer will, grit, and late-career brilliance.

His journey is a masterclass in perseverance—a roadmap for anyone who’s ever been counted out but kept showing up.

Rising Through the Margins

Born in Coorg, India, Bopanna didn’t have access to elite coaching or facilities. His father built a tennis court on the family’s coffee plantation—more out of practicality than ambition. With no coach or peers to train with, he built his foundation solo, refining his game through strength work and self-discipline.

He scraped his way into a distant academy in Pune, paying his own way, and began grinding through the lower ranks of singles. But his calling revealed itself in doubles.

Crossing Borders and Breaking Barriers

One of his boldest moves came in 2010 when he partnered with Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan. Amid tense political history, their run to the US Open final wasn’t just athletic—it was symbolic. “Stop War, Start Tennis” became their rallying cry.

This was Bopanna at his core: bold, unconventional, and unbothered by doubters.

The Comeback Nobody Saw Coming

In 2020, Bopanna was nearly finished. His knees were worn down, and the pandemic had paused the world. He was 40, in pain, and hitting balls against a wall at home—more out of hope than expectation.

Then fate stepped in.  A cousin suggested Iyengar yoga. It transformed his body, healed his knees, and became a cornerstone of his routine. He travelled with straps and blocks, finding discipline in alignment. By late 2022, a new partner arrived: Australian doubles specialist Matthew Ebden.

Together, they made magic.

Crowning Glory

In January 2024, Bopanna and Ebden won the Australian Open men’s doubles title. At 43, Bopanna became:

• The oldest man to win a Grand Slam in the Open era.

• The oldest world No. 1 in doubles history.

His daughter Tridha joined him on court during the celebration—proof that perseverance not only brought him back, it brought him somewhere higher.

A Life Larger Than Rankings

Beyond the stats—like his 2017 French Open mixed doubles title, three Olympic appearances, and over 20 years in Davis Cup—Bopanna leaves behind something rarer: a legacy of resilience, reinvention, and quiet defiance.

He thanked his wife Supriya as his “greatest partner off court,” and credited fatherhood with giving him “a new purpose and softer strength.”