India’s tennis stalwart Rohan Bopanna grew to become the oldest first-time world no. 1 within the historical past of the game as he and accomplice Matthew Ebden certified for the Australian Open 2024 males’s doubles semi-final. Bopanna entered the event with a career-high rating of world no. 3 and can now be elevated to the highest spot when the rankings are revised on Monday after the Australian Open’s conclusion. Bopanna and Ebden defeated Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni within the quarterfinals. After securing the world no. 1 spot, Bopanna stated that “India and Indian tennis wanted this”.
“To start with, Thanks a lot, it has been an unbelievable 20 years taking part in this event week in, week out, and at this time, reaching the No. 1 rating, it is a particularly wonderful and proud feeling. It in all probability hasn’t sunk in absolutely but however nonetheless credit score to your complete workforce, particularly, the household, coach, physio, and everybody behind the scenes who play such a massively necessary function and at all times hold me optimistic,” he stated after the quarter-final match. And naturally, my accomplice Matt Ebden,” he stated.
Bopanna thanked followers for his or her wonderful assist during the last 20 overs, having secured a spot within the Australian Open males’s doubles semi-finals for the primary time in 17 makes an attempt. The achievement, Bopanna stated, was his manner of giving again.
“These final 13 months have been an extremely constant form of a yr. I’m proud to be the place I’m at this time, on the rating of no. 1. So, India wanted this, Indian tennis wanted this. I’m actually completely happy to be representing India the world over on this tennis journey. There’s a lot love and assist from your complete nation for 20 years. I’m grateful for all of the assist. I feel, that is from my facet, giving again to everybody in India. Thanks,” he concluded.
Bopanna and Ebden will now sq. off in opposition to China’s Zhizhen Zhang and Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac within the semi-finals on Thursday to substantiate their place within the last.
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