The announcement came following his first-round defeat at Paris Masters.
Indian ace tennis player Rohan Bopanna has decided to call time on his illustrious career. A sportsperson who inspired an entire generation of athletes, he has now decided to move on and work on honing new talents.
The 45-year-old made his decision public on various social media handles on Saturday.
“As I write this, my heart feels both heavy and grateful. Starting my journey from a small town of Coorg in India, chopping blocks of wood to strengthen my serve, jogging through coffee estates to build stamina and chasing dreams on cracked courts to standing under the lights of the biggest arenas in the world- it all feels surreal.”
“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.”
Thanking his family members, coach and fans, he also confirmed that he would like to stay involved in the sport.
“I may be stepping away from competition, but my story with tennis isn’t over. This game gave me everything and now, I want to give back- to help young dreamers from small towns believe that their beginnings don’t define their limits. That with belief, hard work, and heart – anything is possible.”
“My gratitude is endless and my love for this beautiful game will never fade. This isn’t goodbye… it’s a thank you to everyone who shaped me, guided me, supported me and loved me. You’re all a part of this story. You’re all a part of me.”
The decision follows a first-round defeat at the Paris Masters on Tuesday, where he had paired up with Kazakh Alexander Bublik, going down 5-7 6-2 8-10 against John Peers and James Tracy.
Also Read: Top ten most memorable moments of Rohan Bopanna’s career
A memorable journey
Having started off his career as a singles player, Bopanna was able to produce a few big results, but not the impact he would have wanted to create. In men’s doubles, he clinched the Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles with Eric Butorac in 2008—his first ATP title.
There was no looking back from thereon. He managed to reach the US Open 2010 final with Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi before entering the top 10 in the men’s doubles rankings the next year.
The World Number #61 player won a total of 26 titles. He first tasted success at a Grand Slam at Roland Garros, with Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski in 2017. Apart from that, he also ended as the runner-up at the Australian Open twice in the same category.
Despite his consistent showing in the men’s doubles section, he had to wait until 2024 to finally secure a Major victory, pairing up with home favourite Matthew Ebden to clinch the Australian Open. The player from Coorg also became the oldest first-time No. 1 at the age of 43.
Bopanna was also a player who took great pride in representing the country and took tennis to much greater heights.
No many can forget the heartbreaking fourth-place finish he had achieved with Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles event at Rio Olympics 2016. He also had a total of 49 appearances in the Davis Cup, before bidding farewell to the tournament two years ago.
Feared globally for the power he generates especially while serving, Bopanna’s retirement leaves a huge void in an already depleting stock of resources. However, one can be assured that he will leave no stone unturned in coaching the next set of players, who can attain glory at the national and the international stage.
When did Rohan Bopanna announce his retirement from professional tennis?
Rohan Bopanna announced his decision to call it a day on November 1 (Saturday), bidding goodbye to a 20-year career.
Why did Rohan Bopanna announce his retirement?
Rohan Bopanna didn’t provide an official reason However, he had not been in good form since 2024.
What are Rohan Bopanna’s biggest achievements in tennis?
Apart from winning two Grand Slam titles (French Open 2017 mixed doubles and Australian Open 2024 men’s doubles title), Rohan Bopanna holds the record of being the oldest Grand Slam champion at 44. He is also the oldest World No. 1 in doubles and Oldest ATP Masters 1000 champion.
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