Quote of the Day: Rohan Bopanna, 43, reveals longevity key that “made a huge, huge difference” amid ranking milestone

When Rohan Bopanna and Matt Ebden took out the No. 6 seeds Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 6-4, 7-6 (5) on Margaret Court Arena on Wednesday, it didn’t just send the duo into its first Australian Open semifinals—it secured Bopanna a place atop the ATP doubles rankings for the first time.

And, at the age of 43, the Indian will also make history as the oldest player ever to hold the doubles world No. 1 ranking.

“It hasn't sunk in fully, to be honest. We are very, very proud,” Bopanna told press after the match. “I think Indian tennis, India needed this. We don't really have many tennis players coming up.

“I think it's just going to inspire a lot of people… People all over the world, being 40 and above, I think it's just going to inspire them in a different way.”

WATCH: The catalyst behind Rohan Bopanna extending his career?

Of course, the question on everyone’s mind was how in the world does the 43-year-old stay so fit and competitive—especially at an age when most players would be relaxing in retirement? Bopanna said the key to his longevity had been in front of him this whole time:

Q: Have you thought about your career ending some years ago? What kept you going?

ROHAN BOPANNA: I think that break during the COVID-19 (pandemic) really helped. Those four months sitting at home, trying to find out what to do. That's when I discovered yoga. I mean, it always was there in India but I never really tried it. I just thought  it was something I wouldn't enjoy so much.

I tried this Iyengar yoga, that's a specific type of yoga. Luckily I found the place where the teacher was right next to my house. So I could just walk during the pandemic, go about four times a week, do about 90-minute sessions.

That actually tremendously made a huge, huge difference. A lot of people talk about how they are benefiting from yoga. I personally, today, say that has made a huge difference. I tried a lot of different methods for my knees. Unfortunately it was not working.

And I think yoga in a way not only strengthened my legs, my body, but also, I think made me calmer on the tennis court. It kind of really helped me focus a lot better. I don't feel rushed on the tennis court. I think clearly there. I think that in a big way has made that change…

On Monday, Bopanna will become both the oldest first-time men’s world No. 1 in doubles (breaking 38-year-old Rajeev Ram’s record in 2022) and the oldest player to hold the ranking outright after 41-year-old Mike Bryan. He will also join a legendary shortlist of Indian tennis greats to reach the top of the ATP and WTA rankings, following in the footsteps of Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, and Sania Mirza.

Not bad for a guy with “no cartilage in my knees”.

Congratulations were soon pouring in for Bopanna on social media after the victory from his peers and Indian sports figures—including a major shoutout from cricket GOAT Sachin Tendulkar:

Bopanna will have to recenter himself quickly through all the attention, as he and Ebden will face the unseeded Zhang Zhizhen and Tomas Machac in the Australian Open semifinals. Ebden is seeking his second Grand Slam trophy, and Bopanna his first.

Curiously, partners Bopanna and Ebden actually have the same amount of ATP ranking points, but because Bopanna accrued them in fewer tournaments he’s the one to claim the No. 1 ranking. There were no hard feelings as they had a laugh about the technicality during their press conference:

“He has the 1, I have the 2, whatever, but I saw the equal points. I'm happy to claim that!” the Aussie joked, adding: “It’s a huge milestone, an incredible thing for Bops especially at his age…

“This last year it would have been easy for him to think, Oh, I'll just have another decent year and retire in the next couple of years, but I asked him to commit fully. He pushed himself. We pushed each other... We worked hard together.

“This is a testament of all that, and incredible effort.”