By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday March 19, 2023
Rohan Bopanna made historical past for himself and for his nation on Saturday night time at Indian Wells, when he and Matt Ebden defeated World No.1s Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski for the BNP Paribas Open title.
Bopanna, 43, turns into the oldest man to win a Masters 1000 title.
“I feel it is at all times particular once you get any report as such, however the greatest I feel feeling for me is that I used to be in a position to pursue my tennis, preserve it going, and nonetheless imagine that I might win huge tournaments,” mentioned the hard-serving Bangalore native, who claimed his fifth Masters 1000 title and his first since 2017.
Bopanna and Ebden are partnering for the primary time this yr, and have already received two titles this season.
Bopanna says the important thing to his longevity is at all times on the lookout for methods to get higher.
“I feel that’s the place my strengths are,” he mentioned. “You realize, always discovering methods to determine how I can enhance. You realize, after which take a look at the partnership on what, you recognize, can get higher.”
The oldest Masters 1000 Champion EVER
43-year-old @rohanbopanna makes historical past at #TennisParadise! pic.twitter.com/7KALkndyjq
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 19, 2023
The 43-year-old can be completely happy to make historical past for historical past. He’s the primary Indian man to say the title on the BNP Paribas Open since legend Leander Paes did it in 2007.
“It is actually particular,” he mentioned. “The one particular person to be representing India, and I actually really feel pleased with that. Each time I do know the match right here, wherever an athlete is from, there’s a flag on the market. So it is good to see the Indian flag at all times.
“I actually really feel this week I acquired a whole lot of messages on, how many individuals are nonetheless impressed with the truth that I’ve been ready to do that and nonetheless trying to say, sure, age isn’t a quantity, as they are saying, however nonetheless it’s doable to do it and that’s what is the most important win for me is that I am nonetheless in a position to nonetheless handle and put a smile on anyone’s face, whether or not it is again house or anyplace.”
