NEW DELHI:
Novak Djokovic
, aged 36, and
Rohan Bopanna
, aged 44, are rewriting the narrative of age in
tennis
, showcasing that age is merely a number as they clinch top spots in the
ATP Rankings
history for singles and doubles, respectively.
In a remarkable feat, Djokovic surpassed
Roger Federer
on Sunday to become the oldest World No. 1 in ATP Rankings history, while Bopanna currently leads the ATP Doubles Rankings.
Acknowledging their longevity and resilience, Djokovic remarked, "It's not really balanced.
It's not 50-50. He brings more years to the 80. But I think we're still going strong," emphasizing their enduring passion for the game.
Reflecting on their shared journey, Djokovic and Bopanna highlighted the importance of experience and dedication, underscoring the invaluable lessons that tennis imparts. Djokovic praised Bopanna's commitment to training and expressed hope for future collaborations in India, a sentiment echoed by Bopanna.
"It's great for Serbian tennis and Indian tennis and hopefully we can do something in India soon, we can play there. I really look forward to it. It's amazing. We are old, but gold!" Djokovic exclaimed.
Despite his age-defying achievements, Djokovic enters the Monte-Carlo Masters with a mixed season record, aiming to bounce back from early exits at the Australian Open and Indian Wells. The Serbian maestro is determined to break his quarter-final barrier at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament and secure his first championship of the season.
In the doubles arena, Bopanna and partner Matthew Ebden continue to dominate, eyeing their third triumph of the season following victories at the Australian Open and the Miami Open. As they lead the doubles field with confidence, Bopanna exemplifies that age is indeed no obstacle to success on the ATP tour.
(With inputs from ANI)
English (US) ·