Record-breaker Bopanna targets Wimbledon title
Written by I Dig SportsRecord-breaker Rohan Bopanna wants to make more history by adding the Wimbledon doubles title to his CV.
Bopanna, 43, became the oldest major men's doubles winner with Matthew Ebden at the Australian Open last month, and is the oldest tennis world number one.
India's Bopanna reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2023 and has ambitions to go further this year.
"Growing up in India Wimbledon was the only Grand Slam shown on TV," Bopanna told BBC World Service Sport.
LISTEN: Bopanna on becoming the oldest male player to win a Grand Slam
"I have a really close connection [with Wimbledon]. In 2023 we ended up losing to the eventual champions, [Neal] Skupski and [Wesley] Koolhof.
"I'd love to get back there, get myself in a great position and hopefully Matt and I can do Wimbledon together."
It took 61 attempts with 19 different partners for Bopanna to win his first doubles Grand Slam title when he and Ebden beat Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6 (7-0) 7-5 in the final, and he said he took "a nice nap" to help "calm the nerves down" before the match.
Bopanna teamed up with Ebden at the start of 2023 and has since set several records, including becoming the oldest Masters champion, the oldest finalist at a Grand Slam and the oldest player to win a match at the ATP Finals.
"Today I feel when I'm at the top there's no real reason to stop, and I really feel I'm enjoying travelling still," Bopanna said.
"I'm still competing against the best in the world, winning tournaments, now winning the Grand Slam also. I really feel as long as I enjoy it and I'm not forcing myself to be there, I can still keep going as much as possible."