The victory in Melbourne was Bopanna’s first championship in men’s doubles at a major tournament—aka one tennis’s four “Slams." He’s a former singles player (with a lifetime record of 0-1 versus Roger Federer) who became a doubles specialist, modifying his game to an ever-changing discipline. In doubles, he’s regarded as one of the most consistent players of his generation, a power-serving righty remembered for his partnership with Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, a duo dubbed the “Indo-Pak Express." As he crossed into his 40s, Bopanna’s tennis mortality began to beckon. Last summer, they reached the semis at Wimbledon, and the men’s doubles final at the U.S. Open, where they lost in a heartbreaking three sets.

Source: Wall Street Journal February 20, 2024 22:50 UTC