Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna, at the age of 43, has become the oldest player to claim the No. 1 spot in the men’s doubles rankings. Bopanna, paired with Australia’s Matthew Ebden secured this historic achievement by defeating the Argentine duo Máximo González and Andrés Molteni in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6, during the quarter-finals of the 2024 Australian Open.
The Indo-Australian pairing, seeded second in the tournament, displayed teamwork and resilience, setting the stage for an eagerly awaited semi-final clash. Bopanna and Ebden are set to face the unseeded duo of Tomas Machac and Zhizhen Zhang in a thrilling encounter.
Bopanna, reflecting on his accomplishment, said that his ascent to the top spot at the age of 43 serves as an inspiration for individuals worldwide who are 40 and above.
As the current World No. 1, Bopanna’s achievement surpasses the previous record held by Mike Bryan, who was 41 years and 76 days old when his streak ended in 2019, according to the International Tennis Federation. Bopanna will turn 43 years and 330 days old at the conclusion of the Australian Open on Sunday.