India tennis star Rohan Bopanna entered the Australian Open 2024 men’s doubles semi-finals on Wednesday and created history by becoming the oldest in tennis history to become the world’s top-ranked player.
The 43-year-old Bopanna combined with Matthew Ebden to beat Argentinian duo of Máximo González and Andrés Molteni in straight sets to enter the last-four stage of the year’s first Grand Slam tournament.
Bopanna-Ebden won 6-4, 7-6 (5).
When the ATP rankings are updated on Monday, Bopanna will officially claim the numero uno spot while partner Ebden will get the second spot.
Bopanna, who will be playing in an Australian Open semi-finals for the first time in his career, has previously made the men’s doubles semi-finals of French Open (2022) and Wimbledon (2013, 2015 and 2023). Bopanna is also a two-time runners-up at the US Open (2010, 2023).
His only Grand Slam title win came at the French Open in 2017 when he combined with Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski to win the mixed doubles final.
Bopanna and Ebden entered the 2024 Australian Open as the second seed in the draw.
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Bopanna is one of the most successful Indian tennis players having crossed the milestone of 500 wins in his career earlier in the tournament.
Leander Paes and Sania Mirza have enjoyed more than 700 wins in their respective glorious careers while Mahesh Bhupathi ended his own successful career just three short of the 700-win mark.
At 43, Bopanna became the oldest tennis player to win a ATP Masters series doubles title when he triumphed at Indians Masters with partner Ebden.
He also became the oldest player to win a match at the year-end Finals.
Bopanna surpassed Rajeev Ram of USA who held the record before the Indian when he became the world no. 1 at the age of 38 in October 2022.
It was in 2006 that Bopanna played his first match at the Australian Open – men’s singles event – and has since made his appearance at the annual event for 17 times in a row.
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