Elite sportspersons at the fag end of their careers are often like dying embers of a once raging fire. There are flashes of brilliance, but none of it sustainable. But Rohan Bopanna, at 43, has embarked on an astonishing self-restoration project. In 2023, he has won an ATP Masters title, reached a Major final and roared back into the doubles top-10 (currently ranked No. 11).
So much so that when he announced in June the decision to end his Davis Cup career after the tie against Morocco in Lucknow this September, it evoked surprise rather than indifference. In an interview with The Hindu, Bopanna speaks about his two-decade-long Cup career, the highs, the lows and his reason for walking away. Excerpts:
You are playing some of your best tennis at 43. What’s the secret behind your longevity?
The No. 1 thing is mental strength. It’s behind how I manage my body, train, recover and then compete at a high level. These days, I am focusing more on mobility, using a lot of therabands, doing some yoga and very little gym work. It takes almost 45 minutes to one hour before I even practise. This year I also invested in getting a physio on the circuit and that has helped me feel pain-free on court. Also, the experience of having played for 15-20 years certainly helps.
Age, just a number: Bopanna, who turned 43 this year, has had a season to remember, winning an ATP Masters title and reaching a Major final.
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How have you struck the balance between being a father, a husband and a full-time player?
I’m really happy with everything around me. The tennis academy is running well and my four-year-old daughter is able to travel and watch some live matches. It’s always a pleasure to have the family travel, especially when you are on the road 27-30 weeks a year and there is no work-from-home option. For our daughter, it gives a good perspective and a chance to engage with the world. That kind of relaxes my mind and I am able to constantly play better also. Yes, you have your coach and physio but at the end of the day they are also doing a job.
Tennis is more physical now and doubles all about reflexes, fast points. How have you kept pace?
Whoever I play with is younger than me. I am the oldest on the circuit, so that’s always a good start. But what has helped is my focus solely on my side of the game — to hit those spots on the serve and have that first strike. There are a lot of guys faster and way stronger than me. [But] I have been…
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