Image Source: olympics.com
India’s tennis campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics ended on a disappointing note as both Sumit Nagal and the doubles team of Rohan Bopanna and N. Sriram Balaji were eliminated in their opening matches at Stade Roland Garros. Sumit Nagal, ranked 80th in the world, fought hard but ultimately lost 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 to France’s Corentin Moutet, who is ranked 68th. In the doubles event, Bopanna and Balaji, unseeded, were defeated 7-5, 6-2 by the French pair of Gael Monfils and Édouard Roger-Vasselin in a match that lasted 76 minutes.
In the wake of the defeat, veteran Indian player Rohan Bopanna announced his retirement from representing India in international competitions. Bopanna confirmed that he will not participate in the 2026 Asian Games in Japan but plans to continue competing on the ATP Tour.
Reflecting on his career, Bopanna remarked, “This will definitely be my last event for the country. I completely understand my current position, and now, I will just enjoy the tennis circuit for as long as I can. It’s a big bonus for me to have represented India for two decades. From my debut in 2002 to still representing the country 22 years later, I am extremely proud.”
Despite a successful career, an Olympic medal has remained elusive for Indian tennis since Leander Paes won a bronze in singles at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Bopanna narrowly missed out on a medal in 2016, finishing fourth in the mixed doubles with Sania Mirza.
Bopanna, who had previously announced his retirement from the Davis Cup, highlighted his victory over Ricardo Mello during the India-Brazil Davis Cup tie in 2010 as one of his most cherished moments. He also recalled winning his first men’s doubles Grand Slam and achieving the world No. 1 ranking, expressing gratitude to his wife, Supriya, for her support throughout his career.
