Rohan Bopanna’s tennis career: How did it all unfold for two-time Grand Slam champion?

Rohan Bopanna, 45, one of the greatest players in Indian tennis history, announced retirement from the sport on Saturday, November 1, in a heartfelt post on his official X account. Following a standout

career of more than 20 years in tennis, the Bengaluru-born remarked that he is “officially hanging up” his racquet while stating that “representing India has been a greatest honour” of his life apart from thanking everyone who has been a part of his journey in any sort of way.

The journey in tennis began for Rohan Bopanna as a young boy in Coorg before he made his way to the professional scene at the age of 22 in December 2002. He started finding success in the doubles scene after a tough start to his singles career, winning his first ATP Challenger Tour title in 2003 with Pakistani partner Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi at the Denver Challenge, which made the Indian tennis community note his presence on tour.

Rohan Bopanna won 26 titles on ATP Tour in doubles categories

Rohan Bopanna evolved into one of the most reliable players for India in Davis Cup from 2002 to 2023 and represented India at the Olympics three times, finishing in fourth place in mixed doubles with Sania Mirza at Rio 2016. His first Grand Slam title came in mixed doubles in 2017, clinching the French Open alongside Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada while the second one came in 2024 in men’s doubles at the Australian Open alongside home hero Matthew Ebden.

This propelled him to the career-high World No. 1 ranking in men’s doubles on the ATP Tour, becoming the oldest first-time top ranked player at the age of 43 in the sport. Bopanna went on to win 26 titles on the ATP Tour, including six of them at the Masters 1000 level with the latest being at the Miami Open in 2024, to become the oldest to do it apart from reaching the finals of every such tournament in existence at least once.

While Rohan Bopanna managed to win only two Grand Slam titles, he was the finalist on four different occasions, including twice in men’s doubles at the US Open (2010, 2022) and twice in mixed doubles at the Australian Open (2018, 2023). In 2024, he was conferred with the fourth-highest civilian award in India, the Padma Shri, for his achievements on-court in tennis.