Indian tennis legend Rohan Bopanna has decided to hang up his racquet at the age of 45, bringing to a close a journey that stretched far beyond age and expectation.
In a sport that celebrates youthful exuberance, Bopanna stood tall as its evergreen warrior, reaching some of his finest heights when most would have stepped away. His farewell marks the end of an era for Indian tennis and the culmination of a career defined by resilience, reinvention, and record-breaking brilliance.
A two-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 in doubles, Bopanna retires not just as one of India’s greatest tennis icons, but as a player who redefined longevity in the modern game.
From his thunderous serve to his calm presence at the net, Bopanna’s career was built on perseverance, adaptability, and enduring passion. As he steps away from the sport, here’s a look at some of the milestones that defined his extraordinary run – many of which came when most players would have already hung up their racquets.
Here are some of the greatest greatest career definin g achievements by Bopanna.
Oldest Grand Slam doubles champion in history
14 years after contesting his first Grand Slam doubles final, Bopanna reached his last – and perhaps most memorable – one. Pairing up with Australia’s Matthew Ebden at the 2024 Australian Open, Bopanna showcased his trademark power and deft touch at the net to charge through the draw.
At 43, just a month short of his 44th birthday, he became the oldest man ever to win a major title, in singles or doubles. It was a triumph that celebrated not just skill, but staying power – the hallmark of a true sporting legend.
Oldest to attain the World No. 1 ranking
That Melbourne victory also propelled Bopanna to the world No. 1 ranking in men’s doubles – making him the first Indian since Leander Paes in 1999 to achieve the feat. In doing so, he also became the oldest player, across both singles and doubles, men’s or women’s, to reach the top of the world rankings.
The magnitude of the achievement was not lost on him. Reflecting on the moment, Bopanna said: “People all over the world, being 40 and above, it’s just going to inspire them in a different way.”
Oldest to win ATP Masters 1000 event
Just weeks after that Australian Open triumph, Bopanna continued rewriting the record books. Partnering once again with Ebden, he captured the Miami Masters 1000 title in March 2024 – becoming the oldest player ever to win a Masters 1000 event. The victory broke the record he himself had set the previous year with a win at Indian Wells.
Bopanna also joined Leander Paes as the only two Indian players to reach the final at each of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments on the ATP Tour – a rare distinction that underscores his sustained excellence over two decades.
As Bopanna walks away from the professional circuit, his records stand as a testament to his resilience and dedication. More than the trophies, it is his late-career resurgence – proof that age is no barrier to greatness – that will define his enduring legacy in Indian and world tennis.