Shafaqna India: Australian Open champion and accomplished doubles player Rohan Bopanna will make his debut in the Tennis Premier League (TPL) this season, scheduled for December.
The 44-year-old Indian, currently ranked world number six in doubles, won the men’s doubles title at the Australian Open alongside Matthew Ebden. “I’m thrilled to join the Tennis Premier League, especially with its innovative 25-point format. It’s a great way to close out the year,” said Bopanna, a former world No. 1 in doubles.
Bopanna, who represented India in three Olympics, also won the mixed doubles title at the 2017 French Open with Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada. The Bengaluru native holds the unique distinction of being the oldest player to reach the No. 1 ranking, achieving this feat in January, and has won over 25 career titles. He joins Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, and Sania Mirza as the only Indians to reach the top of the tennis rankings.
“It’s fantastic to have the dynamic Rohan Bopanna onboard,” said Kunal Thakkur, Co-Founder of the TPL, ahead of its sixth season.
Each match between two franchises will feature men’s singles, women’s singles, mixed doubles, and men’s doubles, with 100 points up for grabs per match, divided into 25 points for each category. Each team will play for a total of 500 points across five league-stage matches, with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals.