43-year-old Bopanna became the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era and the oldest player to achieve the world number one ranking in men’s doubles. His accomplishment makes him the third Indian after Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati to bag a men’s doubles Grand Slam title.
Playing a sport can be physically and mentally demanding and it is challenging for athletes to maintain a consistently high performance as they grow older. However, Bopanna defied all odds and proved that determination and perseverance are crucial for achieving one’s goals. His focus and resoluteness enabled him to stay dominant in the sport at an age when most retire. He did consider retiring several times, due to knee pain and performance issues, but was able to overcome age-related hurdles by prioritising his mental and physical fitness. This process included taking up Iyengar yoga, which bettered his knee issues and performance.
Over the course of his career, Bopanna has bagged 24 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) doubles titles as well as a gold medal in men’s double’s tennis at the Asian Games in 2018. With undeterred determination, support from his family and self-discipline, he is now at the top of his game and his journey is an example that age is no bar when it comes to chasing one’s goals.
Responding to Bopanna’s extraordinary achievement, another sporting legend, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar posted an inspiring congratulatory message online saying, “Your moment can arrive anytime, anywhere. Just ask Rohan Bopanna, who at 43, seized it on the grand stage of the Australian Open. Keep training, keep dreaming and be prepared to step up when your time comes.”
Image Source: twitter.com
