Rohan Bopanna hangs up his racket: Indian Tennis legend retires after 20 years of glory

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna announced his retirement from professional sports on Saturday, bringing an end to a career spanning more than two decades.

Rohan Bopanna announced his retirement on Instagram, writing, "Goodbye... but not the end. How do you say goodbye to something that gave your life meaning? However, after 20 unforgettable years on tour, the time has come. I am officially retiring." He wrote, "As I write this, my heart is simultaneously heavy and grateful. I began my journey in a small town in Coorg, India. I chopped logs to strengthen my serve, ran through coffee plantations to build my stamina. Today, standing under the lights of the world's largest arena feels like a dream."

The star player wrote, "Tennis has never been just a sport for me. It has given me direction when I was lost, courage when I was broken, and confidence when the world doubted me. Every time I stepped on the court, the game has taught me patience, the strength to get back up when I fell, and the fight when I felt like giving up. Most of all, it has always reminded me why I started and who I am." Apart from the US Open final, Bopanna has also reached three other Grand Slam finals. He also played in the year-end ATP Finals in 2012 and 2015 with Mahesh Bhupathi and Florin Mergea.

Bopanna, 45, who won the French Open mixed doubles title in 2017, also represented India in several Davis Cup ties and the Olympic Games. He achieved the world No. 1 ranking at the age of 43. In addition to men's doubles, Bopanna also won the mixed doubles title at the French Open in 2017. Rohan Bopanna last played at the Paris Masters 1000, where he partnered with Alexander Bublik.