India’s Rohan Bopanna could script history at Melbourne Park on Saturday (Jan 27) as he bids to win the Australian Open 2024 Men’s doubles titles. Now the oldest World No. 1, Bopanna could become the oldest player (singles or doubles) to win a Grand Slam title if he along with his Aussie partner Matthew Ebden beat the Italian pairing of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the Australian Open final. Ahead of what could be a historic final, Bopanna spoke exclusively to WION and opened up on his way to success at the Australian Open and the challenges faced before becoming the World No 1.

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“Extremely happy and proud to have achieved the number ranking in doubles. It has always been my goal to be number one but did not thought that it will come at this time in my career. It was a realistic goal for Matthew Ebden and for me after 2023 and when we decided to continue our partnership our main focus was to have a better January compared to last year where we had lost in the first rounds in Adelaide and Brisbane. It is amazing to have achieved this ranking and to be honest, it is still sinking,” Bopanna said while speaking to WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo on Thursday (Jan 25).

Boppana opens up on his recent experience

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Question: How difficult was it for you to prepare for this next match this morning provided there were so many wishes?

Answer: Yes, definitely it was very different as not often, or maybe the first time in my career that so many messages came pouring and it was overwhelming. What makes it special is today I was playing the semi-final and yet I was trying to reply to as many messages as I can but also had to make sure that I got my beauty sleep to get ready for today’s match.

The upcoming match against Zhang Zhizhen and Tomas Machac was going to be tough and we had to be prepared.

Question: This is your 61st appearance at the Men’s Grand Slam doubles tournament, how desperate are you to pocket your first title?

Answer: I am not at all desperate to as this is a personal goal, the biggest thing is I am extremely happy to be in a state where I am able to compete for a Grand Slam title. As you mentioned this is my 61st Grand Slam appearance but just a third men’s doubles final and this occasion does not come that often so I am excited to put myself in a place where I can give a shot at the title and win it.

Question: How do you prepare for a Grand Slam final and have you played Italian Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori before?

Answer: To start with Bolelli, I have played him a few times but with Vavassori I have played him once at the US Open. However, in a teams event I haven’t played against them I don’t think even Matthew Ebden has played them. If anyone is playing in the final they are assumed to have played good tennis and I hope it will be a tough match and we can hope it can be a very good match. Bolelli is a past champion at the Australian Open and he knows the conditions.

I am really looking forward to this final on Saturday because I think we are playing some good tennis this entire fortnight.

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