'India needed this, Indian tennis needed this': Rohan Bopanna after sealing World No 1 ranking

At 43 years old, Rohan Bopanna is set to become the World No. 1 in men’s doubles, when the ongoing Australian Open ends on Sunday. Bopanna is the fourth Indian, after Mahesh Bhupathi, Leander Paes and Sania Mirza, to be ranked at the helm in doubles tennis.

Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden progressed to the semi-finals of the Australian Open after beating the Argentinian pairing of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 6-4, 7-6.

Bopanna, who turned pro in 2003, and Ebden leapfrogged current top-ranked player Austin Krajicek in the live ATP doubles rankings. The Indo-Aussie pair now have 7170 points as compared to American Krajicek’s 7160 points.

“It’s been an incredible 20 years of playing this sport, playing these tournaments week-in week-out… Today reaching the World No. 1 ranking is extremely amazing. Proud feeling. Probably hasn’t sunk in fully. Credit to the entire team - family, coach, physio, everyone behind the scenes who play a huge role and always keeping me positive,” he said in Melbourne on Wednesday.

“Of course my partner Matt Ebden and these last 13 months have been incredible. Consistent year and I’m proud to be where I am today at the ranking of No. 1.”

“I think India needed this, Indian tennis needed this and I’m really happy to be representing India across the world in this tennis journey. I’m really thankful for all the support and from my side, this is giving back to everyone in India,” he added.

Bopanna’s previous best ranking was World No. 3, which he achieved in November last year after a campaign that saw him reach the semi-finals of Wimbledon, final of the US Open and clinch the ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells. Bopanna-Ebden also reached the finals in Madrid, Shanghai and Paris with a semi-final finish at the season-ending ATP Finals.

To start 2024, Bopanna-Ebden reached the final of the Adelaide International.