At an age when most athletes hang up their boots, Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna is just getting started.
The 45-year-old is not only breaking records on the court but also brewing success off it, proving that age is no barrier to greatness.
At last week’s Monte Carlo Masters, Bopanna partnered 22-year-old American Ben Shelton to storm into the Round of 16, defeating Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo and Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo 6-3, 7-5, reported India Today.
With that win, Bopanna etched his name in the history books as the oldest player to win a match at an ATP Masters 1000 event, surpassing Canada’s Daniel Nestor, who held the record at 44 years and eight months.
This milestone is just one in a series of historic achievements Bopanna has racked up in his 40s.
Lat year, he became the oldest Grand Slam winner in the Open Era, clinching the Australian Open doubles title with Australian partner Matthew Ebden. That victory also earned him the distinction of being the oldest first-time World No. 1 in doubles.
His record-setting spree didn’t stop there. In March 2024, he and Ebden lifted the ATP Masters 1000 trophy at the Miami Open, making Bopanna the oldest champion at that level.
Despite parting ways with Ebden, Bopanna’s new pairing with Shelton has already proven fruitful — and potentially history-making again.
Off the court, Bopanna’s passions are equally strong. A native of Coorg (a rural district in Karnataka) and son of a coffee planter, he turned his love for coffee into a business venture, reported news publication DNA.
Together with his wife Supriya Annaiah, he co-owns a restaurant in Bangalore and launched “Rohan Bopanna’s Master Blend” in collaboration with cafe brand The Flying Squirrel.
His journey from a boy who picked up a racquet at 11 — taking tennis seriously only at 19 — to becoming a global tennis icon is nothing short of remarkable.
Bopanna, who retired from representing India after the 2024 Paris Olympics, continues to thrive on the ATP tour, setting benchmarks and inspiring generations.
Whether smashing records or serving espressos, he’s proving that life at 45 can be just the beginning.
