India doubles ace Rohan credits passionate spectators for helping him and partner Ramkumar rally to 6-7, 6-3, 10-6 victory over Aussies in final
India’s Rohan Bopanna (right) and Ramkumar Ramanathan during the doubles final in Pune yesterday
India’s Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan won their second ATP World Tour title together after pipping the top seeded Australian pair of Luke Saville and John-Patrick Smith in the final of the Tata Open Maharashtra, here on Sunday.
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The second-seeded Indians erased the first set deficit to win 6-7(10), 6-3, 10-6 in one hour and 44 minutes. Bopanna and Ramanathan had combined as a team on the ATP Tour for the first time at the Adelaide event last month in the run-up to the Australian Open and won the trophy. For Bopanna, it was his 21st ATP doubles title, while for Ramanathan it is his second trophy at this level and it will push him inside doubles top-100 for the first time in his career. They split USD 16370 as prize money and earned 250 ranking points each. Bopanna had won this event with compatriot Divij Sharan in 2019. Still going strong at an age of 41, Bopanna said it’s his years of playing experience that is helping him out in the circuit.
‘I did a lot of yoga’
“A lot is to do with experience, which you really bring in, years and years of experience and the biggest thing is my body is feeling very very good at the moment,” Bopanna said after the match. “I did a lot of yoga which has helped me tremendously and I am very thankful to my yoga teacher [Mohan] in Bangalore which has made such a difference for me and I can try something new at this age.
Asked to compare the two titles that they have won together, Bopanna said performing before the home crowd was tough while in Adelaide no one watched them. “Both are extremely special but anytime you win a title at home it’s lot more pressures. In Adelaide no one was really watching, but here there were lot more expectations and especially coming here with a win people expected an automatic win which wasn’t easy but at that tie break the crowd really helped.
“You just get that extra boost, that extra energy. Even if your legs are feeling tiered that’s the energy you need to hit the serve especially for me. Winning in India is always especial and especially with an Indian partner is truly truly great.”
Sousa wins singles title
Meanwhile, Portugal’s Joao Sousa beat Emil Ruusuvuori 7-6 (9), 4-6, 6-1 to clinch his first ATP singles title since May 2018 and fourth overall.
Del Potro to retire
Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro said Saturday his comeback next week after two and a half years of injury is “more a farewell than a return” to tennis. Del Potro is set to announce his retirement after he plays at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, his first tournament since fracturing his kneecap in June 2019 at Queen’s in London.
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