S Kannan in Hangzhou
Twenty-one years is a long time for any player to be part of multiple Asian Games campaigns. Rohan Bopanna has seen the highs and lows, crests and troughs, in a career where he got a raw deal many times.
On Saturday, the 43-year-old Coorgi showed commendable heart to keep the fight going as he teamed up with Rutuja Bhosale to win the mixed doubles gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
For sheer longevity, for sheer toughness and honesty, RoBo, as he is called now, deserves a separate gold medal. Indian tennis has seen drama of the Bollywood variety where Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi won medals, fought and created a mess. That they missed an Olympic doubles medal still rankles.
In this one-upmanship, Rohan was a victim many times. He had to fight for his own identity, he had to fight for who he partnered at the Olympics. The history is so sickening that it is a miracle that RoBo survived and continued to stay afloat.
Once Leander and Mahesh retired, there must have been more fresh air for Bopanna, whose ability to play doubles with almost anyone is a big plus. He has been part of campaigns with many men, and also Sania Mirza. That he lost the bronze-medal playoff at the Rio Olympics in 2016 still hurts him. That is why he is hoping he can go full tilt, again, in Paris in 2024.
This writer has seen Bopanna since his young days, from 1997 onwards, when he was fast, furious and feared. His serve was massive, which earned him the infamous tag of Bofors, a gun. People in this generation know him as a doubles specialist. But if you flip through his Davis Cup record as well, he was a big guy in the singles.
Maybe, Bopanna was an underachiever of sorts in singles, given his talent. Yet, the move to play only doubles has seen him flourish. Indians and doubles are a great combo in tennis, yet to learn the nuances was not easy.
His serve, the angles in doubles, and his anticipation have made Bopanna so potent. He has had his share of fitness problems but kept fighting. Without a trainer, he would struggle, for his knees are stiff. They hurt when he is off court, so he has to go on doing strength work and rehab. Scott Davidoff, the physio, comes in handy.
At his height – six feet, four inches – the body is put through so many different tests, bending, again rising and going for the low balls. Perhaps, it’s his love for the sport which has seen him solider on without any complaints. Given his family background and coming from Coorg, he could live comfortably without the prize money.
Also Read: Rohan Bopanna Signs off from Asian Games in Style; Mixed Doubles Gold with Rutuja Bhosale
Unless you have passion, you do not do well in sports. Bopanna always put his heart and soul into it. After the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, he was annoyed with the politics and fights between Paes and Bhupathi. That was why he missed two Asiads in 2010 and 2014, in China and South Korea.
Maybe, that hunger for winning medals for India saw him come back in 2018 in Jakarta with Divij Sharan. The duo won gold. Again, a gold medal with Rutuja. Rutuja was a first-timer at the Asian Games and he brought out the best in her. How? That is his USP, nurturing players of different ages. He has already embarked on a mission to help doubles players in India.
Is there something India can do for Bopanna? Now that he has retired from Davis Cup play, he should be made the captain. He knows the bunch well, and his pleasing manners will get him a vote from all. The problem is that the All India Tennis Association (AITA) cares two hoots about the players.
What next for him then? Well, he is not going away so soon. He is fighting, working and loves his tennis. Travel and being away from home are not easy. Right now, he has support from the family, and they join him whenever possible.
It’s lonely on the professional tennis circuit, not like the Asian Games when there are so many people. The man has been around for nearly three decades. If there are medals for dedication and discipline, Bopanna deserves one. For, he has never created any trouble in a sport where egos are frequently huge. Such is his humility that he will sign countless autographs and pose for photos.
A rare champion, really.
Also Read: Sudden Thigh Pain Stalled Mira’s Asian Games Medal Quest