Rohan Bopanna Reveals BTS Of 13-Year Wait Which Made His Maiden Grand Slam Triumph Special

Published 26 June 2026 · sports

Rohan Bopanna Reveals BTS Of 13-Year Wait Which Made His Maiden Grand Slam Triumph Special Published By, Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 07:57 IST Ahead

Rohan Bopanna Reveals BTS Of 13-Year Wait Which Made His Maiden Grand Slam Triumph Special Published By, Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 07:57 IST Ahead of Wimbledon 2026, Rohan Bopanna reflects on his long wait for Grand Slam glory, the value of perseverance, and the Stefan Edberg advice that shaped his career. Rapid Read Rohan Bopanna (AFP) As the world’s best tennis players gear up for Wimbledon 2026, former Indian doubles star Rohan Bopanna reflected on the journey that defined his career. Speaking on JioStar alongside Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson ahead of the Championships, Bopanna looked back at the long wait before finally winning his maiden men’s doubles Grand Slam title at the 2024 Australian Open. That iconic victory came after years of near misses. “When it all came quickly, I thought, ‘Oh, next year everything else will change.’ Little did I know that it would take another 13 years for it to happen.

But I’m glad I stuck around. I stayed with the grind and did all the right things," Bopanna said. “I think that’s what you need to do to remain relevant in the sport. That’s where I felt you and I are very similar — we’ve stayed relevant and competitive because there are always a lot of people trying to take your spot. I think that experience helped as well." The 45-year-old, who retired in November last year, leaves behind one of the most remarkable careers in Indian tennis. Bopanna became the oldest Grand Slam champion and the oldest World No. 1 in doubles, while also representing India in the Davis Cup for more than two decades and narrowly missing an Olympic medal with Sania Mirza at the 2016 Rio Games. Bopanna also revealed the advice that has stayed with him throughout his career, shared by his childhood idol and two-time Wimbledon champion Stefan Edberg.

“We are fortunate enough to have this kind of community where we can reach out to athletes and legends of the sport," Bopanna said. “I remember meeting my role model, Stefan Edberg, and he told me, ‘When you’re playing the sport, never look at what your peers are doing. Do what works best for you. Don’t do something just because someone else is doing it. Look at your strengths, work on them, and build on them.'" “Coming from someone I watched growing up, especially at Wimbledon, it was advice that I carried throughout my journey." Wimbledon is set to run from June 29 to July 12 at the All England Club. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Siddarth Sriram After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas.