This conversation was due. We had last spoken soon after the Australian Open Mixed Doubles final and, since then, Rohan Bopanna has gone from strength to strength. Rotterdam, Indian Wells, Barcelona and, now, Madrid – it has been a stellar few months for the 43 year old. He is knocking down the top-ten door yet again. We had agreed that we would have a conversation soon after the Madrid final was over, and it was at 1am India time on Saturday night when Rohan messaged asking, “Awake?”
I had slept by then, and only picked up the message on Sunday morning. That’s when I requested him to drop me a line when he was up in Madrid on Sunday morning, so we could get going with our chat. He did so around 2pm IST, when I was just about finish watching Jubilee on Amazon Prime and appreciating Prosenjit Chatterjee and the hugely talented Wamiqa Gabbi, as Nilofer. Soon after Rohan messaged, we got down to speaking.
Excerpts from the conversation:
Boria: Rotterdam, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid – multiple semi-finals and finals. It has been an amazing run for you. Thoughts on the consistency?
Rohan: Firstly, thanks for your continuous support. Yes, it has been a very good start to the season, I have to say. Playing multiple semi-finals and finals always makes you feel good. But the most important thing is I am absolutely loving competing. In fact, that’s the thing I am most looking forward to. With Matt [Ebden], the partnership is working extremely well and, needless to say, his record speaks for itself, both in singles and doubles. We have won a few very close matches and that tells you the pairing is working. And Madrid for me has always been special. I have won a title here, and also played a final. So it was good to play another final. In fact, in 2021, I was going through a very tough period and it was in Madrid that I won my first match of the season. It is one tournament that I have to say I love playing.
On the issue of consistency, it is also about managing the body. At 43, the body takes much more time to recover and it is hugely important to be able to manage the recovery. Last season, I did not have a physio with me on tour, and this is one thing I have addressed this season. I have my own physio, Rebecca from Belgium, who travels with me at the moment, and her presence has made a huge difference. Even after the Madrid final, the first thing I did was get into an ice bath to allow the body to recover. All of this has contributed to the consistency, I have to tell you.
Boria: You are very close to the top 10 ranking again. And at 43, it is even more impressive. For India also, it is a huge thing to look up to. Thoughts on the way forward?
Rohan: Yes, you are right. I am close to making it back to the top 10, but that’s natural when you are playing well. If you have a good consistent run, the ranking will take care of itself. For me, it is about carrying the Indian flag to these big competitions. When you read Rohan Bopanna, India, it inspires a youngster back home to take up the sport. Whichever sport he or she plays, it will help us become a better society. And when one of your own does well, it is easier to identify. It is about leaving behind a legacy, and if people back home feel encouraged to take up the sport after seeing me, there can be no better feeling.
Boria: The French Open is round the corner. You had a fantastic run in Melbourne with Sania [Mirza]. Thoughts on the French?
Rohan: Yes, and I am very confident going into Paris. Having said that, in tennis, it is about every match, every round, every game that you play. Melbourne was a fairy-tale run of sorts, and when you are able to do so with someone who is a close friend, Sania, it feels that much better. Though we did not win, we were able to make the final, and it will always be a fond memory for us both. Going forward, I hope to do well at Roland Garros as well.
Boria: In four months from now, we have the Asian Games, and in July 2024, it is Olympic Games time. Have you given them a thought yet?
Rohan: Yes, and the Asian Games is an important competition for us in India. What we need to see is how many players we can field, and from the six who can go, how many are doubles players. We have doubles teams that are doing well and if we can field one of them, I can then team up with one of the singles players and mount a strong Indian challenge. It is always a matter great pride to be able to win medals for India, and that’s something I am very conscious of. Paris 2024 is still some distance away. At the moment, I am more focussed on the Asian Games.
I also want to thank everyone back home for all the wishes. The support so far has been overwhelming, and it feels great to see the appreciation from your own people when you do well for your country.