Rohan Bopanna reflects on sacrifice, legacy and Indian tennis

At an age when most tennis players would step away from the circuit, Rohan Bopanna continued scaling new heights.

In 2024, at 43, the Indian tennis star became the oldest world No. 1 in ATP doubles rankings and the oldest player in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam men’s doubles title after lifting the Australian Open crown alongside Matthew Ebden.

Despite a career spanning more than two decades, Bopanna says the belief that he still had “unfinished business” kept him motivated through injuries, setbacks and moments where retirement felt close.

In an exclusive interview with Olympics.com, Bopanna reflected on longevity, representing India, sacrifices on tour and his hopes for the future of Indian tennis.

Staying hungry after 40

Rohan Bopanna: Honestly, there were definitely moments where retirement felt very close. Injuries are difficult, but losses and self-doubt can sometimes hurt even more. What kept me going was the belief that I still had unfinished business. I genuinely felt I could still compete at the highest level if I stayed disciplined and kept evolving. Also, having the right people around you helps a lot.

The evolution of Rohan Bopanna

Rohan Bopanna: At 22, I probably moved better, recovered faster and hit the ball harder. But at 44, I understood the game at a completely different level. I knew how to manage pressure, read patterns, and stay calm in important moments. Over five sets, maybe the younger Rohan wins physically. But in doubles? I’d back the 44-year-old version every time because experience and clarity matter so much.

Why Davis Cup means so much

Rohan Bopanna: Playing for India is emotional in a way that no ranking or tournament can replicate. When you walk onto the court wearing the Indian jersey, it becomes bigger than yourself. Davis Cup, Asian Games and Olympics gave me some of the proudest moments of my career because you’re representing millions of people, not just your individual journey. It’s the best feeling.

The hardest sacrifice in tennis

Rohan Bopanna: The biggest sacrifice is time. You miss weddings, birthdays, festivals, family moments and sometimes even simple routines that most people take for granted. People see the matches and trophies, but they don’t always see the years spent living out of suitcases, eating at restaurants three times a day.

What makes a great doubles partnership

Rohan Bopanna: Off court chemistry is huge in doubles. You spend almost every day together whether it's training, travelling, recovering or competing. If there’s trust and mutual respect off the court, it reflects in the big moments on court. With someone like Mahesh Bhupathi, we communicated honestly and kept things simple. That helped us perform under pressure.

The one rule he would change

Rohan Bopanna: I would probably bring back advantage scoring in doubles at the professional level. The no-ad format makes matches exciting for spectators, but sometimes it removes the tactical depth and pressure management that makes tennis special. But keep the super tiebreaker in the third set.

Making doubles more visible

Rohan Bopanna: I would make doubles more visible and integrated into the overall tennis product. Better storytelling, consistent partnerships, more broadcast focus and stronger promotion of personalities would help a lot. Doubles is incredibly exciting to watch live, but it needs more visibility and continuity for fans to connect emotionally.

Future of Indian tennis

Rohan Bopanna: I believe the talent is there. But talent alone is never enough. The next generation needs guidance, structure, and patience. What Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza, myself and others achieved came from years of sacrifice and resilience. I think the next generation can carry the legacy forward, but they need the right environment around them.

Giving back to Indian tennis

Rohan Bopanna: My biggest goal now is to help create a stronger pathway for Indian players. I want to contribute towards building ecosystems that give young athletes access to world-class coaching, sports science, recovery and international exposure much earlier. Indian tennis has enormous potential and if I can help even a few players believe bigger and prepare better, that would mean a lot to me.

Life beyond tennis

Rohan Bopanna: I’ve actually started enjoying spending more time building things outside tennis, especially around Indian tennis development and sport as a whole. I also enjoy coffee culture a lot more now, not just drinking coffee but understanding the experience, community, and conversations around it.

On joining the All India Tennis Association

Rohan Bopanna: If I can genuinely help make a positive change for Indian tennis, I would absolutely love to be part of it. But for me, it’s never about simply holding an administrative position or having a title attached to my name.

Advice to tennis players

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