Indian Tennis player Rohan Bopanna etched his name in the history book as he will become the No. 1 mens doubles player in the world at the age of 43.
Rohan and his doubles partner Matthew Ebden cruised to the semi-finals of the Australian Open on Wednesday which ensured the veteran becomes the oldest tennis player to achieve the world No. 1 ranking in mens doubles.
The 43-year-old Bopanna, who had entered the tournament with a career-high ranking of world No. 3, put up a sensational show with his partner to beat Argentine pair Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
The match lasted for 1 hour and 46 minutes.
The Indo-Aussie pair will now face unseeded Tomas Machac and Zhizhen Zhang in the semi-finals.
Bopanna, who has represented India in several major tournaments in his career, will be crowned the new numero uno in mens doubles on Monday after the end of the tournament.
Indian sports icons praise Rohan Bopanna
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar praised Bopanna and posted on X: Age is just a number but Number 1 is not just another number.
Thank you very much Sachin ????… https://t.co/88QPpt1VaB
Rohan Bopanna (@rohanbopanna) January 24, 2024
Congratulations Rohan! Being the oldest World Number 1 in Mens Doubles is a stellar feat, he said.
@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
Tennis icon Mahesh Bhutani greeted Rohan and wrote on X: @rohanbopannagetting to World Number 1 today after 20 years on tour in my opinion is one of the greatest stories in Indian Sport!!!@AustralianOpen#Bofors.
So proud Ro ? no one deserves it more 1???? @rohanbopanna
Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) January 24, 2024
Tennis star Sania Mirza wished him by writing on X: So proud Ro no one deserves it more.
