Bopanna Says New Grand Slam Champion Will Emerge Despite End of India’s Tennis Golden Era

MUMBAI — Indian tennis may have closed a historic chapter with the retirement of Rohan Bopanna, but the veteran believes the country will soon produce another Grand Slam champion.

Bopanna, who stepped away from the international circuit in November 2025, said emerging talent and stronger support systems could help India return to the top level of the sport.

“Yeah (we will have one). You know, because if you look at the current guys we’ve been supporting from the Davos Dream of India with Yuki Bambri, (Sriram) Balaji, Vikram, Arjun, and a few. I mean, you know so many of them are part of this programme, and they’ve already been in the top 100, you know, playing their Grand Slams. Yeah, it’s definitely possible,” Bopanna said.

Bopanna capped his career with a historic win at the Australian Open in 2024, where he claimed the men’s doubles title alongside Matthew Ebden. He had earlier won the mixed doubles crown at the 2017 French Open with Gabriela Dabrowski. His 2024 victory made him the oldest Grand Slam champion in the Open Era at 43 years, 10 months, and 24 days.

His retirement marked the end of a golden era in Indian tennis that spanned nearly three decades, beginning with Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi and continuing through Bopanna and Sania Mirza. All four reached the world No. 1 ranking in doubles and secured multiple Grand Slam titles.

While acknowledging the challenge of matching that legacy, Bopanna said India has the potential to build a similar pipeline of success with sustained investment and planning.

“I think it’s a tough shoe to fill straight away. We still have a long way to go. We have definitely had the potential, and now with good government support, corporate support, everyone coming through, and a lot of tournaments happening in India, I think we definitely have a good chance to get on a similar pathway. Still, the main thing is to have and sustain a structure like this for a long period of time,” he said.

Bopanna, who remains active as a player and mentor for SC Pipers in the Tennis Premier League, is also focused on developing future talent through the Rohan Bopanna Foundation, where he trains and mentors young players. (Source: IANS)