Bopanna Wins First Australian Open Title: Triumphs in Men’s Doubles with Partner Ebden, Defeating Italian Pair 7-6, 7-5

Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna has secured his first-ever Australian Open title. The 43-year-old Bopanna, alongside his Australian partner Matthew Ebden, clinched the title in men’s doubles.

The Indian-Australian duo defeated the Italian pair of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in straight sets with scores of 7-6, 7-5 in the Rod Laver Arena. The final match, lasting nearly two and a half hours, showcased Bopanna and Ebden’s dominance.

With this victory, Bopanna becomes the oldest player to win the Australian Open, marking a historic moment in his career.

First Set Goes to Tie-Breaker, Second Set Secured with Ease

The first set posed significant challenges for both teams. Each point witnessed intense competition, leading to a deadlock at 6-6 games, eventually heading into a tie-breaker. In the tie-breaker, the Indian pair emerged victorious.

In the second set, the score stood at a tense 5-5. It seemed likely that this set would also be decided by a tie-breaker. However, Bopanna and Ebden managed to break their opponents’ service. Following this, they won the next game and seized the set with a score of 7-5.

Bopanna’s Second Grand Slam Title

This marks Rohan Bopanna’s second Grand Slam title. Previously, in 2017, he clinched the mixed doubles title at the French Open partnering with Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski. He had also been a runner-up twice in the men’s doubles at the US Open, once in 2010 with Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and again in 2023 with Matthew Ebden.

Defeat in the Final Alongside Sania Mirza Last Year

Last year, Rohan Bopanna faced defeat alongside former Indian tennis star Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles final of the tournament. Subsequently, the Indian pair lost to the Brazilian duo in a closely contested match.

Bopanna Becomes Oldest Player to Reach Grand Slam Final Last Year

Last year, at the Bopanna Open, Rohan Bopanna became the oldest player to qualify for a Grand Slam final. He and his partner Matthew Ebden faced defeat in the final of the US Open 2023. Bopanna made his debut twenty years ago.

Bopanna is also the oldest player to win the Masters 1000 event in men’s doubles. At the age of 43, he achieved this feat by winning the Indian Wells tournament alongside Ebden last year.