43-year-old Bopanna turns into oldest Indian Wells champion

INDIAN WELLS: India’s Rohan Bopanna turned into the oldest ATP Masters 1000 champion when he and his Australian spouse matt ebden claimed the boys’s doubles crown on the BNP Paribas Open right here.
The 43-year-old Bopanna and Ebden, 35, defeated top-seeded Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands and Neil Skupski of Britain 6-3, 2-6, 10-8 within the ultimate on Saturday.
“Truly special. It’s called Tennis Paradise for a reason,” mentioned Bopanna, who used to be taking part in in his tenth ATP Masters 1000 ultimate.

“I’ve been, over the years, coming here and seeing all these guys win for so many years. I’m really happy that Matt and I were able to do this and get this title here.
“It’s been some tricky suits, shut suits. Today we performed towards one of the vital absolute best groups in the market. Really satisfied that we were given the trophy.”
Bopanna thus surpassed Daniel Nestor of Canada, who had claimed the 2015 Cincinnati Masters to become the oldest champion at the age of 42.

“I spoke to Danny Nestor and I instructed him sorry I’m going to overcome his file,” he joked. “Winning the name, that remains with me, so truly pleased with that.”
It was the 43-year-old’s fifth Masters 1000 doubles title and first since he won in Monte Carlo in 2017. This was the third final of the year for the Indo-Australian duo. He now holds 24 tour-level trophies in his cabinet.

The Indo-Australian pair stunned defending and two-time desert titlists John Isner and Jack Sock in the semi-finals, while getting the better off Canadian singles stars Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov in the quarters.

Bopanna and Ebden had defeated Rafael Matos and David Vega Hernandez in their opening match.
A former world no. 3, Bopanna jumped four places to No. 11 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Rankings.