Australian Open, Bolelli-Vavassori defeated. Bopanna and Ebden win the doubles

The Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna, with his 43 years of age, prominent belly and already whitened beard, by winning his first Slam, became the oldest tennis player crowned world number one. But also the testimonial of all those who, having passed the threshold, persist in showing up on the pitch even though their physique is no longer what it once was. Maybe sprinting less on short balls, shouting “tuaaa” to his teammate. To Bopanna, as he jokingly said, a “You, I’m not going there” is enough. His partner Matthew Ebden already knew that running was his business, Bopanna’s contribution (and what a contribution) lies in strategy, touch and of course volleying. A doubles specialist (this Australian Open was his 61st Slam played, while in singles his best ranking stopped at 213 position), six years ago he won the mixed event at Roland Garros with Gabriella Dabrowski and had reached the challenge for the men’s title at the US Open also in 2010 together with Pakistani Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi. The two, nicknamed “Indo-Pak Express” and bearers of a message of peace between two nations in constant conflict for control of the Kashmir region, lost in the final against the twins Bob and Mike Bryan but were awarded the title “Champions of Peace ” from “Peace and Sport” organization under the patronage of Prince Albert of Monaco. A lot of class, on and off the pitch, he had to deal with his joints: Bopanna had several knee injuries in his life, which, with the complicity of wear and tear, reduced his cartilage to zero. To get back on his feet he relied on the physiotherapist Rebecca and, following the Djokovic model, on ice baths, but there was a period in which he thought about retiring. The stop imposed by the pandemic, however, made him discover yoga (lyengar yoga to be precise) to which he combined long walks, with 90-minute sessions four times a week which, he explained, worked miracles on his knees, together with lots of stretching. However, the belly and the confetti-thrower physique remained. But for “golden arm” Bopanna they are not a problem. And they serve to make it the perfect model for club players.