With a shot at an Olympic medal on the line, World No.1 Rohan Bopanna has a crucial decision to make in selecting his Men’s Doubles partner for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The only criteria is that his partner be ranked within the Top 300 of either the singles or doubles rankings.
“I need to figure who I’ll be playing with. I need to decide by June,” said Bopanna, without revealing any names.
The choice of partner could significantly impact Bopanna’s chances of medaling. Here’s a look at a few of the contenders:
1) Yuki Bhambri
India’s No. 2 in doubles, Bhambri recently made the semi-final of the ATP 500 Dubai Open. Bhambri also has experience playing alongside Bopanna. However, their early loss at the Asian Games last year raises some concerns. The pair has a 1-1 win loss record playing together in Davis Cup.
Bopanna and Bhambri during the 2023 Davis Cup tie in Lucknow
2) Sumit Nagal
Though not a regular on the doubles circuit, Nagal’s recent rise in the singles rankings and his Junior Grand Slam doubles title make him an interesting option. Since clay is Nagal’s best surface, and the Olympics will be played on clay, his name will surely be on Bopanna’s shortlist. Will his limited doubles experience be a drawback, or can his singles prowess translate to success on the doubles court?
Bopanna and Nagal during the 2024 Australian Open
3) Ramkumar Ramanathan
Bopanna has already tasted success with Ramanathan, winning 2 ATP 250 titles together in 2022. Their familiarity and proven ability to win as a team make them a strong contender.
4) Jeevan Neduncheziyan
Bopanna and Nedunchezhiyan won the 2017 ATP Chennai Open together and could offer an interesting right-left combination Bopanna might consider.
Bopanna and Nedunchezhiyan after their 2017 Chennai win (Photo – HT)
5) Other Options
With India having 11 players in the Top 150, Bopanna has a wealth of options at his disposal. Sriram Balaji (95), Vijay Sundar Prashanth (96), Saketh Myneni (106), Anirudh Chandrasekar (107), and Arjun Kadhe (122) are all potential partners with varying strengths and weaknesses.
The coming months will be crucial as Bopanna weighs his options and chooses the partner he believes will give him the best chance to win a medal in Paris. Will experience and existing chemistry be the deciding factors, or will Bopanna prioritize a partner with recent success or a complementary skillset? Only time will tell who Bopanna picks to join him on the quest for Olympic glory in Paris.