CNN
—
Rohan Bopanna proved age was just a number after becoming the oldest ATP Masters 1000 champion at 43, with a victory in men’s doubles at the BNP Paribas Open.
Alongside playing partner Matthew Ebden, the unseeded pair dispatched top duo Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski, to claim the men’s doubles title in Indian Wells, winning 6-3 2-6 10-8.
The triumph was the duo’s second title together following last month’s success in Doha at the Qatar Open. Bopanna described the victory as “really special”.
“It’s called Tennis Paradise for a reason. I’ve come here over the years and seen all these guys win and I’m really happy that Matt and I were able to do that and get this title here,” he said, according to Reuters.
By winning his 24th trophy at circuit level, the former world doubles number three broke the record for oldest masters champion held by former partner Daniel Nestor.
According to Reuters, Bopanna attributed the feat to her coffee consumption. “It’s the Indian coffee that I continue to drink when traveling,” he explains. “That’s the secret. The most important thing is to make sure you recover well after games and that has really helped me.
The Indian, whose family owns a coffee plantation in the Indian state of Karnataka, added: “Some days I tell Matt that maybe I only trained for 20 minutes, but I prefer to rest the body. and be ready for our games.”
Ebden and Bopanna together now hold an 11-4 record this season and have moved up to 18th and 11th respectively in the ATP doubles rankings.
