Rohan Bopanna becomes second Indian to reach four ATP Masters 1000 finals in single season

He became the oldest player to qualify for the final of ATP Masters.

India’s Rohan Bopanna recently made history by becoming only the second Indian to reach four ATP Masters 1000 final in a single season, following his recent appearance in a Paris Masters final.

Rohan Bopanna and his partner, Matthew Ebden, showcased their exceptional talent in this year’s ATP Masters 1000 season, competing in multiple prestigious finals. They played Indian Wells Masters, Madrid Open, Shanghai Masters, and Paris Masters final this Year, winning two of the four.

At the age of 43, Rohan Bopanna, embarked on his remarkable journey at the 2023 Indian Wells Masters, partnering with Australian Matthew Ebden in the men’s doubles category. Against all odds, the duo triumphed in a tense final, defeating Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski with a score of 6–3, 2–6, [10–8]. This victory marked Bopanna’s fifth Masters 1000 title and made him the oldest ATP Masters 1000 finalist and champion.

Bopanna’s pursuit of excellence continued at the 2023 Madrid Open. Although they reached the final, the title eluded them, as they were beaten by Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev.

The zenith of Bopanna’s 2023 season came at the 2023 Shanghai Masters, where he and Ebden advanced to the final yet again. In a closely contested battle, they narrowly missed the title with a final score of 5–7, 6–2, [10–7]. Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski, who were the defending champions, faced strong competition from Bopanna and Ebden throughout the season, adding excitement to the men’s doubles category.

As the 2023 season concluded at the Paris Masters, Bopanna and Ebden found themselves in another Masters final, facing Santiago González and Édouard Roger-Vasselin. In a hard-fought match, they narrowly missed the title with a final score of 6–2, 5–7, [10–7].

The Indians achievement is further highlighted when we consider that the last Indian to reach four ATP Masters 1000 finals in a single season was the legendary Mahesh Bhupathi in 2003 and 2010, alongside partner Max Mirnyi. Bopanna has now joined this exclusive club of Indian tennis greats, showcasing both his immense talent and his dedication to the sport.