In a historic feat at the Australian Open today, 43-year-old Rohan Bopanna etched his name in the record books as the oldest-ever Grand Slam winner. The Indo-Australian duo of Bopanna and Matthew Ebden emerged victorious against Italians Simone Boleili and Andrea Vavassori in a thrilling encounter at the Rod Laver Arena.
Bopanna and Ebden claimed their maiden title as a team with a decisive two-set victory, sealing the match with scores of 7-6, 7-5 after a hard-fought battle lasting 1 hour and 39 minutes.
This triumph marked Bopanna’s first Grand Slam win in men’s doubles after an impressive 60 previous attempts, setting a record for the most attempts before clinching victory. Surpassing Dutchman Jean-Julien Rojer, who secured the French Open men’s doubles title at the age of 40, Bopanna, at 43, now stands as the oldest Grand Slam winner in history.
Bopanna is also poised to make history in the rankings, set to become the oldest number one in men’s doubles when the new rankings are released next week.
This Australian Open victory is Bopanna’s second Grand Slam in his illustrious career, his previous win coming at the 2017 French Open in mixed doubles alongside Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski. The title also marks Ebden’s second men’s doubles triumph after his Wimbledon victory in 2022 alongside fellow Australian Max Purcell.
In the final today, the Bopanna-Ebden pair showcased their prowess, claiming the first set 7-6 in a nail-biting battle that went down to the wire. The Italian duo of Bolelli-Vavassori fought back, but Bopanna and Ebden’s offensive blitz secured all 7 straight points, clinching the set after 51 minutes of intense play. The second set mirrored the first, with both pairs going neck-and-neck until Bopanna and Ebden seized the opportunity, winning the final two games and the set 7-5 to capture the title.
Bopanna’s resilience and historic achievement at the Australian Open serve as an inspiration, solidifying his legacy in the world of tennis.
