breaking news Rohan Bopanna becomes oldest Indian Wells T 43 champion
Bopanna thus overtook Canada’s Daniel Nestor, who won the 2015 Cincinnati Masters to become the oldest champion at the age of 42.
Tennis veteran Rohan Bopanna became the oldest ATP Masters 1000 champion when he and Australian partner Matt Ebden lifted the men’s doubles trophy at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells in the United States.
Bopanna, 43, and Ebden, 35, beat top seeds Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands and Neil Skupski of Great Britain 6-3, 2-6, 10-8 in the final on Saturday.
“Really special. It’s called Tennis Paradise for a reason,” said Bopanna, who was playing his 10th ATP Masters 1000 final.
“Over the years I’ve come here and watched all these guys win for so many years. I’m really happy that Matt and I were able to do this and get this title here.
“It was tough games, tight games. Today we played against one of the best teams. Really happy that we got the trophy. Bopanna thus overtook Canada’s Daniel Nestor, who won the 2015 Cincinnati Masters to become the oldest champion at the age of 42.
“I spoke to Danny Nestor and told him sorry for breaking his record,” he joked. “Winning the title stays with me, so really happy with that.” It was the 43-year-old’s fifth Masters 1000 doubles title and first since winning Monte Carlo in 2017. It was the Indian-Australian duo’s third final of the year. He now holds 24 tower-level trophies in his cabinet.
The Indian-Australian pair stunned two-time desert defending champion John Isner and Jack Sock in the semi-finals, while getting the better of Canadian stars Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov in the quarters.
Bopanna and Ebden beat Rafael Matos and David Vega Hernandez in their opening match.
Former world No. 3, Bopanna jumped four places to No. 11 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles rankings.
— With PTI inputs
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