Indian veteran tennis player Rohan Bopanna has added another feather to his cap following his quarterfinal win with partner Matthew Ebden against Argentine pair of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni in Men's Doubles at Australian Open 2024 on Wednesday, January 24.
Bopanna has become the fourth Indian tennis player after Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza to be the World No.1 in doubles. Also, the 43-year-old will be the oldest player to top the rankings in Men's Doubles after the ATP Rankings get updated following the conclusion of Australian Open.
Following the fourth-round win against Dutch-Croatian pair of Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic, Rohan Bopanna was assured of World No.2 ranking in Men's Doubles. However, the semifinal win with Ebden against Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni has guaranteed his position at the top of the world rankings in Men's Doubles.
Meanwhile, Rohan Bopanna made it to the semifinal of the Australian Open for the first time in his career. His previous best at Melbourne Park was third round finish, which he achieved six times in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Talking about the match, Rohan Bopanna and Australian partner Matthew Ebden defeated Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni in two straight sets - 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the quarterfinals. The Argentine pair tried to take the second set but Bopanna and Ebden got the better of them to win second straight set and qualify for semifinal.
Bopanna and Ebden will face Zhang Zhizhen and Tomas Machac
Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden will lock horns with Chinese-Czech pair of Zhang Zhizhen and Tomas Machac in the semifinal of Men's Doubles On Friday, January 26.
Zhizhen and Machac defeated Uruguayan-Czech duo of Ariel Behar and Adam Pavlasek in two straight sets - 6-3, 6-1 in the quarterfinals. Zhang Zhizhen and Tomas Machac have lost only set throughout the tournament thus far and is expected to pose a tough challenge to Bopanna and Ebden.
However, Indian-Australian pair will look to carry carry on their momentum into the semifinal and inch closer to winning the Australian Open title.
Rohan Bopanna is eyeing to win his first Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park. He reached the finals of Major twice at US Open in 2010 and 2023 but coveted trophy eluded him.
