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Tennis

From beating the Bryans to winning back-to-back Challenger titles, Rohan Bopanna made up for his three-month injury lay-off this season. Excerpts from an interview.

By Bhagya L. Ayyavoo

Bhagya Ayyavoo: Rohan, you sealed your third Challenger title with Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi on Sunday at the Helsinki tournament. How special was that?

Rohan Bopanna: It’s a great feeling. It’s a great way to finish the year. It was my last tournament of the season. It was a perfect finish. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

BA: Can you reflect on the 2009 season?

RB: It had its ups and downs. I started off the year pretty well. I teamed up with (Jarkko) Nieminen and we beat the Bryan brothers in the US (San Jose ATP event), where we reached the final. I contributed to the Davis Cup win in Chinese Taipei and started off well. Unfortunately, just before the grass-court season, I hurt my knee and was injured for three months which was a big let down for me. Grass and hard courts are basically my favourite surfaces. Then, I got stronger (during the injury lay-off). And to come back and notch up a big win in the World Group playoff in the Davis Cup tie in South Africa was a huge moment. Following that, qualifying for the tour event (Malaysian Open) at Kuala Lumpur and beating world No. 51 Jose Acasuso of Argentina was a good win for me. The confidence that I got from winning the Davis Cup singles tie, helped me in Kuala Lumpur. And, to finish it off with two back-to-back Challenger doubles titles (Germany and Finland events) with Qureshi to add to the one we bagged at Khorat Open, was the icing on the cake. I am happy to have finished the year on a high note.

BA: You mentioned how you were disappointed to miss the grasscourt and part of hardcourt season due to injury. Does pain (of missing events) make you hungrier for success?

RB: Of course. The ego was there to go out there, play and win a lot more matches. I had more energy than the rest of the players in the circuit as well. That helped me a lot.

BA: You teamed up with Nieminen and you have played with Janko Tipsarevic at Kremlin Cup this year. You had also doubled up with Max Mirnyi last year. But Qureshi who makes the Indo-PAK Express has been your regular partner. Amongst these players, which one brings the best in you?

RB: It is Qureshi, no doubt. I have been playing with him from 2006. We know our game. We know each other really well. We’re really good friends off the court. I feel very comfortable playing doubles with him. We combine really well on the court. I have had some good results with him especially in the Challenger circuit and we’re looking forward to try and continue the partnership next year and build on it and work on moving to the Grand Slam level and Tour events.

BA: Not only in doubles, you sparkled in your singles as well this year. But, that one singles match versus South Africa’s Rik de Voest really stood out. How crucial was that success in Davis Cup to you?

RB: It was my most important match coming after my injury. So, it (a win) was not expected from me. But, the fact that Somdev (Devvarman) won the first match, gave me a lot of confidence going into the tie. Also, playing at higher altitude and the quick surface were perfect conditions for me. I took advantage of that and put India 2-0 up on the first day. It was a very crucial tie, especially as we were on the verge of making the World Group after 11 years.

BA: At this juncture, you’re India’s man for both singles and doubles. Is this all-rounder profile too much responsibility for you?

RB: For me, playing singles or doubles, it doesn’t really matter. I feel very comfortable playing both. It definitely helps (to have someone who can play both singles and doubles well). No doubt. Especially in this case during the Davis Cup tie in South Africa, Leander (Paes) had to miss the tie and I partnered Mahesh (Bhupathi). Again, it was unfortunate that Mahesh got injured as well. But, still we were strong enough to come through and win that tie 4-1.

BA: So, with this all-rounder image, can we call you India’s tennis version of Yuvraj Singh?

RB: Well, I don’t think so (laughs). Cricket and tennis are two different sports, so I don’t consider myself in that angle at all.

BA: With this season done and dusted, what’s in store for you, next year?

RB: I am starting off with the Chennai Open. Then will follow it up by playing the Australian Open and a few tournaments in South Africa and the US. I am looking forward to that. But, the important one is the Chennai event, the only tournament we have in India. So, I’m eager to play well there. I like that city. I’ve always done well there. I will take a few days off now and start training again to get ready for the event starting on January 4.

BA: After the injury that forced you out of action for three months, will you be taking any precautionary fitness training to avoid a repeat?

RB: The injury was a freak injury which happened this year. I slipped on court and tore my ligament. It’s not something which was there earlier. Those are injuries, where you’re not in control. But, I have a trainer from South Africa who’ll be down here and I will also be training with Mahesh in Mumbai and will be sweating it out to get ready for January.

BA: Be it any sport, numbers are very important. You are ranked 397 in singles and 82 in doubles. Have you set yourself a target for 2010?

RB: Absolutely nothing. I never set any targets, ranking-wise. My goal this year was to try and make it to the Australian Open. I was ranked 95 in doubles, so, I was targetting to get close to the 80’s, so that I can have a shot at playing in Australia. And, that’s how I have landed at 82. Now, my immediate plan is to play in Australia, see how it goes and hope I have a longer period next year. I will work hard to get enough points and get my ranking as high as possible. There’s no particular number in mind as such for next year. But, I’m definitely looking forward to playing the full 32 weeks of the season.

BA: Pick one match that went beyond your expectations in 2009?

RB: No doubt, it has to be the one in Davis Cup. That was the big one for me. Nothing bigger than that. 100 per cent, the win over Rik de Voest was my best. And, then of course beating the No.1 team in the world, the Bryan brothers at the beginning of the season partnering Nieminen was special too. It was a great win for us.

BA: Bops, you’re the big server of Indian tennis. How many aces do you think you must have cracked this season?

RB: That’s a tough one to say. I would have definitely hit over a hundred. That’s for sure.