Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna announced his retirement from professional tennis at the age of 45. The veteran player said goodbye to the sport after more than 20 years on the international circuit. In a heartfelt social media post, he wrote, “How do you bid farewell to something that gave your life its meaning? After 20 unforgettable years on tour, it’s time … I’m officially hanging up my racket.”
Bopanna’s long career was filled with achievements and historic records. He won two Grand Slam titles and became one of India’s most successful doubles players. His partnership with several world-class players brought him glory on major stages, earning him the respect of fans worldwide.
In 2024, Bopanna became the oldest ATP Masters 1000 champion when he won the Miami Open doubles title with Australian partner Matthew Ebden. The same pair had earlier claimed the Australian Open doubles crown, which made Bopanna the oldest men’s Grand Slam champion in the Open Era. That victory also took him to the number one spot in the men’s doubles rankings.
His list of major victories includes the 2017 French Open mixed doubles title, which he won with Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski. Across his career, Bopanna collected a total of 26 men’s doubles titles, showing his consistency and skill at the highest level of the sport.
Bopanna was known not only for his professional victories but also for his patriotism. He proudly represented India in several major tournaments, including the Davis Cup, Olympics, and Asian Games. He won the men’s doubles gold at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and later added the mixed doubles title at the 2022 edition in Hangzhou.
Born in the coffee-growing district of Coorg in Karnataka, Bopanna’s journey from a small town to the global tennis arena is truly inspiring. His success made him a role model for young Indian athletes and a symbol of perseverance in sports.
In his farewell message, Bopanna said, “Representing India has been the greatest honour of my life. Every serve, every point, every match – I played for that flag.” His final professional match took place at the 2025 Paris Masters, where he and Alexander Bublik were narrowly defeated by John Peers and James Tracy. Even in defeat, Bopanna’s spirit of sportsmanship and love for the game remained unmatched.
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