Rohan Bopanna achieves historic milestone, becoming the oldest first-time World No. 1 after Australian Open men's doubles success.

In a historic feat on Court 3, Rohan Bopanna, participating in his 17th consecutive Melbourne Park tournament, achieved a breakthrough by reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open for the first time in his illustrious career. The 43-year-old Indian tennis stalwart secured this milestone alongside Australian partner Matthew Ebden, triumphing with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) win against the Argentine duo of Máximo González and Andrés Molteni in the men's doubles quarterfinals.

Notably, this victory ensures Bopanna's ascent to the top spot in the ATP men's doubles ranking, making him the oldest first-time World No. 1 at the age of 43. Surpassing the previous record set by Rajeev Ram in October 2022 at the age of 38, Bopanna's achievement adds another remarkable accolade to his illustrious career.

The Indo-Australian pair faced a brief delay in the third game due to court conditions resulting from overnight rain in Melbourne. However, they overcame the challenges, clinching the first set 6-4 after breaking Gonzalez's serve in the fifth game. The second set saw a tight battle, leading to a tie-break, where Bopanna and Ebden maintained their flawless record by securing a 7-5 victory. This marked their fourth consecutive win in tie-breaks during the tournament.

Bopanna's journey to the semifinals also solidifies his status as the oldest man to make a Grand Slam final in the Open Era, a distinction he earned almost four months earlier at the US Open. The victory completes his set of at least a semifinal appearance at all Grand Slam events. The experienced pair is now set to face unseeded duo Zhang Zhizhen and Tomáš Macháč in the semifinals, as they strive to claim Bopanna's maiden Grand Slam trophy in men's doubles.

As Bopanna, who turns 44 in March, eyes this historic achievement, he is poised to become the oldest player to secure a Grand Slam men's doubles title, adding another chapter to his remarkable tennis legacy.