Reactions continue to pour in on social media with fellow sportspersons and fans sending their wishes to Rohan Bopanna who on Wednesday created history by becoming the oldest men’s doubles player to be ranked world no. 1.
Also Read: Bopanna Hopes His Historic Rise Will Inspire Budding Tennis Players Back Home
Bopanna overtook American Rajeev Ram to become the oldest top-ranked player at 43 years.
“So proud Ro no one deserves it more,” wrote India tennis legend Sania Mirza.
India squash star Joshna Chinappa wrote, “Amazing Bops @rohanbopanna So proud World No1️⃣”
@rohanbopanna getting to World Number 1 today after 20 years on tour in my opinion is one of the greatest stories in Indian Sport!!! @AustralianOpen #Bofors— Mahesh Bhupathi (@Maheshbhupathi) January 24, 2024
So proud Ro ???? no one deserves it more 1️⃣⬆️ @rohanbopanna— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) January 24, 2024
Bops first told me he was contemplating retirement 5 years ago, then 4 years ago, then 3 years ago…Moral of the story is…. Who cares…
He's number 1! ????
Couldn't be happier for the Bopanna family! @rohanbopanna is all ♥️ and the best story in indian sport!
— Somdev Devvarman (@SomdevD) January 24, 2024
Amazing Bops???? @rohanbopanna So proud???????? World No1️⃣— Joshna Chinappa (@joshnachinappa) January 24, 2024
World No.1 looks good on you, Bopsy. Thanks for always inspiring us ????????@rohanbopanna https://t.co/6KLcvR0kMz— Sumit Nagal (@nagalsumit) January 24, 2024
Just phenomenal stuff ???? Icon of Indian Tennis ???? @rohanbopanna https://t.co/kgHERSBO6O— SK Uthappa OLY (@Uthappask) January 24, 2024
Congratulations @rohanbopanna , what an outstanding achievement !#KeepPushingYourself pic.twitter.com/6vUeQ3OZ4c— Sjoerd Marijne (@SjoerdMarijne) January 24, 2024
Bopanna and his men’s doubles partner Australian Matt Ebden defeated Argentina’s Máximo González and Andrés Molteni 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the quarter-final earlier today to book their semi-final spot in the ongoing 2024 Australian Open.
In 17 appearances, this is the deepest Bopanna has managed to at an Australian Open.
Bopanna, who had achieved the highest rank was world No. 3 for the first time in 2013, is the fourth Indian after Leander Paes, Bhupathi and Mirza to take the world number one rank in doubles.
He will take over the top position from USA’s Austin Krajicek, who and his Croatian partner Ivan Dodig lost in the second round.
Bopanna won the mixed doubles title at French Open in 2017 alongside Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski. However, a title has eluded him in men’s doubles, having finished runner-up twice at the US Open in 2010 with Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Quresh and 2023 with Ebden.
In fact, Bopanna’s feat at the US Open last year made him the oldest-ever Grand Slam finalist.
Bopanna is also the oldest player to claim a men’s doubles title at a Masters 1000 event. He achieved the feat last year at the age of 43 with Ebden, winning the prestigious Indian Wells tournament.
The second-seeded Indo-Australian pair will next face unseeded Tomas Machac and Zhizhen Zhang in the semi-finals.
Bopanna will be officially become the world no. 1 on Monday when the rankings will be updated.
Before Bopanna, Rajeev Ram of the USA was the oldest player to be ranked world no. 1 when he had achieve the top ranking in October 2022 at the age of 38.
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