Veteran Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna has announced his retirement from professional tennis. The decision was made through a long emotional post Instagram post on Saturday (November 1). The 45-year-old exits the sport after having played at the top level for more than two decades.
This development comes a year after Bopanna became the oldest Grand Slam champion and the oldest no.1 ranked doubles player. To achieve these mmilestones at the fag end of his career shows the durability of Bopanna. In fact, he was a late bloomer in general and it was only after he crossed 35 that Bopanna started to get a major share of his successes.
Bopanna represented India in four editions of the Olympics and in 2016, he was a whisker away from winning a medal for his country. The veteran eventually finished fourth in what was his career-best act. The recent Paris Masters 1000, where Bopanna participated in men's doubles, was his final major stint with tennis.
“How do you bid farewell to something that gave your life its meaning? After 20 unforgettable years on tour, it's time I'm officially hanging up my racquet," read the note from Bopanna on Instagram.
“From chopping wood in Coorg to strengthen my serve, to standing under the lights of the biggest arenas in the world - it feels surreal. Representing India has been the greatest honour of my life."
Bopanna's specialisation was in doubles tennis and he was part of the regular doubles as well as mixed doubles. He was a pro at his trade and made a massive impact not just through his gameplay but also through his strong persona.
"Tennis hasn't been just a game for me - it has given me purpose when I was lost, strength when I was broken and belief when the world doubted me. Everytime I stepped onto a court, it taught me perseverance, resilience to rise, to fight again when everything inside me said I couldn't - and most of all, reminded me why I started and who I am."
