Tennis and the fans are always looking for and attentive to the stars of the future, now with the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (20 years old), the Italian Jannik Sinner (22) and the Danish Holger Rune (20) as standard bearers of the new generation.
All three were called to win titles of grand slam and carve out an exceptional track record as the main heir to the golden age of ‘Big Three’ formed by Serbian Novak Djokovic (24 ‘grandes’), Spanish Rafael Nadal (22) and the Swiss Roger Federer (twenty).
However, in tennis there are also other realities that are far from the focus of individual tournaments, but equally valid for its protagonists. Without going any further, for years the doubles circuit has been a great outlet for many players, most of them veterans, who understand that they no longer have options to make a living in singles, but they play in pairs
In this context, the new record that has just been achieved is understood. Rohan Bopannawho became this Saturday, at 43 years and 329 days, the oldest Grand Slam champion in the world. it is tomorrowin progress since 1968. On Monday he will climb to world No. 1 in doubles and, at 43 years and 331 days, he will also surpass the American record Mike Bryanwho was 41 years and 76 days old when his reign ended in July 2019.
Male or Female, Martina Navratilova He is the oldest Grand Slam champion: he was 46 years and 261 days old when he won the 2003 US Open in mixed doubles modality in India Leander Paes.
Bopanna, with the Australian Matthew Ebdenwon the final of Australian Open to the italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori by 7-6 (0) and 7-5. It was his first ‘major’ men’s doubles title, his 25th overall, after losing his two previous finals, both at the US Open, in 2010 with Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and last year with Ebden.
The Indian tennis player, who has no individual titles and his best ranking (213th) in 2007, has already won another Grand Slam in mixed doubles, along with the Canadian. Daniela Dabrowski in Roland Garros’2017. After winning this Saturday in Australia, he spoke some words that surprised, who is 43 years old: “For me, without a doubt, this is the best moment of my career. As long as I enjoy and playing my best. tennis, I see no reason to stop now.” said Bopanna, who explained the importance of a good recovery to stay competitive.
“I’m focusing on recovery, it’s a big aspect of preparing for matches. Since the first day I landed in Australia, every day I’ve gone through ice baths, I think that’s the main recovery for me, which really It helps me reduce inflammation,” says Rohan.
Top-10 kids, top-10 old
The singles and doubles ranking
Proof of the big difference between singles and doubles tennis can be seen by looking at the average age of the world top-10 in the same circuit: 25.2 in singles and 36.4 in doubles, that is, more than 11 years old. Of the pairs, only two twenty-one in the top-30, Polish Jan Zielinski (27 years old and 17th) and Australian Rinky Hijikata (22 years old and 24th), are the only ones with individual impersonation (he is now. 71st in rank).
Bopanna added that he is now playing the best tennis of his life. “The main reason for this is also how I manage my body and my time, in the sense that there are days when I tell my trainer or Matty that I don’t want to train. I’ve stopped going to the gym, I do. some kind of work specific to my body, a lot of yoga,” said the Indian tennis player.
“In the morning I do some meditation to start the day. As I get older, I feel like I can’t sleep past eight in the morning, I wake up no matter what happens. Then I have time to myself and I do it. “I enjoy it. Yes, that has been the most important key that has really helped me to be calmer and feel renewed,” Bopanna concluded.
“Age really isn’t even a number for this guy. He’s young at heart,” said teammate Matthew Ebden. “He is a champion, a warrior. He fought hard by my side all last year and now we won the Australian Open together. I will be forever grateful to him,” said the Australian, who won his second Grand Slam after debut. in Wimbledon’2022 with his compatriots Max Purcell.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
