1 de 1 2024 Australian Open – Day 12
- Foto: Shi Tang/Getty Images
O indiano Rohan Bopanna fez história neste sábado (27/1) ao se tornar o tenista mais velho a conquistar um título de Grand Slam. Ao lado do australiano Matthew Éden e com 43 anos, ou, como ele prefere dizer, ‘no nível 43’, derrotou a dupla formada pelos italianos Simone Bolelli e Andrea Vavassori por 2 sets a 0, com parciais de 7/6 (7/0) e 7/5, e conquistou o título do Aberto da Austrália.
“Obrigado a todos por todo carinho e apoio. Esta vitória é tanto sua quanto minha. Eu não tenho 43 anos, eu estou no nível 43. Foi uma partida duríssima, mas estou muito animado com essa conquista”, disse o indiano, que celebrou cada ponto, ao lado do australiano, como se fossem dois jovens atletas em quadra.
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 25: Rohan Bopanna of India celebrates the victory in the Men's Doubles Semi Final match against Tomas Machac of Czech Republic and Zhizhen Zhang of China during day twelve of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)
Shi Tang/Getty Images
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Rohan Bopanna of India celebrates winning championship point in their Men’s Doubles Final match with Matthew Ebden of Australia against Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy during the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 25: Rohan Bopanna (L) of India and Matthew Ebden (R) of Australia celebrate winning match point during the men's doubles semifinal match against Tomas Machac of Czech Republic and Zhizhen Zhang of China on the twelve day of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images)
Andy Cheung/Getty Images
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Rohan Bopanna of India and Matthew Ebden of Australia talk tactics in their Men’s Doubles Final match against Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy during the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Matthew Ebden of Australia plays a forehand in their Men’s Doubles Final match against Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy during the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Matthew Ebden of Australia and Rohan Bopanna of India celebrate winning championship point in their Men’s Doubles Final match against Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy during the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Rohan Bopanna of India and Matthew Ebden of Australia pose with the championship trophy after their Men’s Doubles Final match against Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy during the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Rohan Bopanna of India and Matthew Ebden of Australia pose with the championship trophy after their Men’s Doubles Final match against Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy during the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Rohan Bopanna of India and Matthew Ebden of Australia pose alongside Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy after their Men’s Doubles Final match during the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Além de ser o tenista mais velho a conquistar um título do Grand Slam na Era Aberta, superando o holandês Jean-Julien Rojer, campeão de Roland Garros em 2022 aos 44 anos, Bopanna bateu a marca do seu compatriota Leander Paes, que tinha 38, quando venceu o Aberto da Austrália em 2012.
Nas mistas, o indiano havia conquistado o torneio de Roland Garros, em 2017, com Gabriela Dabrowski. Ele também alcançou a inédita liderança no ranking da ATP nas duplas, batendo a marca do americano Mike Bryan, que tinha 41, quando foi o número 1 do mundo.
O duelo foi extremamente equilibrado, tanto que no primeiro set não teve quebras e a vitória veio apenas no tie-break. No momento mais decisivo, Bopanna e Eden mostraram um nível de concentração muito elevado e conseguiram largar na frente com um 7/0.
No segundo set, a dupla campeã manteve o nível e teve um bom aproveitamento no saque para vencer um dificílimo duelo por 7/5, com apenas uma quebra de serviço e 19 winners. O título acabou coroando um exemplo de perseverança de um tênis no auge dos seus 43 anos e 329 dias. Completará 44 antes de Wimbledon.
