Veteran tennis player Rohan Bopanna, one of just four Indians to win Grand Slam titles, announced his retirement from professional tennis on Saturday, ending a more than 20-year career on the demanding ATP Tour.
The 45-year-old Bopanna made his last Tour appearance earlier this week at the Paris Masters, when he paired with Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan and lost in the first round.
In a heartfelt message titled “A Goodbye… But Not The End,” Bopanna announced that he was “officially hanging up racquet,” reminiscing on a career that carried him from Coorg, his hometown, to the largest tennis arenas worldwide.
“How do you bid farewell to something that gave your life its meaning? After 20 unforgettable years on tour, however, it’s time..
“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,” Bopanna wrote.
Following the Olympics in Paris last year, Bopanna’s career with India came to an end. After playing his final match against Morocco in Lucknow in 2023, he declared his retirement from the Davis Cup.
Tennis is more than just a sport, according to the 22-year doubles specialist, who called it a source of “purpose, strength and belief” throughout trying times.
“Every time 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,” he said.
Additionally, Bopanna honored his family and acknowledged their support during his career.
He expressed gratitude to his wife Supriya for being his “greatest partner off court,” his sister Rashmi for her unwavering support, and his parents for their sacrifices.
In an emotional letter, he thanked his daughter Tridha for giving him “new purpose and a softer strength.”
“Every match I played in these last years, I played for you — to show you that dreams are worth fighting for and that kindness and courage matter more than winning,” he wrote.
Known for his strong serve and durability on the ATP Tour, Bopanna became one of India’s most successful doubles players after becoming pro in the early 2000s. Throughout his career, he competed for India in the Olympics, Grand Slam competitions, and several Davis Cup fixtures.
His first Grand Slam came in 2017 when he and Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski won the French Open mixed doubles competition. In 2024, he won his first and only men’s doubles championship with Matthew Ebden at the Australian Open.
At the age of 43, Bopanna became the oldest ATP Masters champion when he and partner Ebden won the Indian Wells trophy in 2023. During his great Australian Open run in 2024, at the age of 43, he also became the oldest world number one in doubles.
Bopanna, received the Padma Shri in 2024, is probably going to continue contribute to the game. He is working on a number of projects and just brought UTR Tennis Pro to India.
