'Hanging up my racquet'; Tennis legend Rohan Bopanna announces retirement

NEW DELHI: Indian table tennis legend Rohan Bopanna announced his retirement after 22 years in the sport. 45-year-old Rohan played his last match against Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik in Paris earlier this week. Rohan Bopanna is the oldest player to reach the world number one ranking in doubles and the oldest Grand Slam winner. Rohan announced his retirement in a post shared on social media.

Rohan Bopanna’s social media post announcing retirement:

"A Goodbye... But Not The End.

How do you bid farewell to something that gave your life its meaning? After 20 unforgettable years on however, it's time... I'm officially hanging up my racquet.

As I write this, my heart feels both heavy and grateful. Starting my journey from a small town of Coorg in India, chopping blocks of wood to strengthen my serve, jogging through coffee estates to build stamina and chasing dreams on cracked courts to standing under the lights of the biggest arenas in the world- it all feels surreal.

Tennis hasn't been just a game for me - It has given me purpose when I was lost, strength when I was broken and belief when the world doubted me.

Every time I stepped onto a court, it taught me perseverance, resilience to rise, to fight again when everything inside me said I couldn't, and most of all, reminded me why I started and who I am."

Bopanna, a native of Coorg in Karnataka, ended his career with two Grand Slam titles, the Australian Open men's doubles in 2024 and the French Open mixed doubles in 2017. He reached the finals of four Grand Slam tournaments. He finished fourth with Sania Mirza at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He represented India in Davis Cup matches for two decades. Bopanna also brought UTR Tennis Pro to the country. Not only that, he also set up his own academy to shape the new generation in tennis.