While the victory in the first round was one for the history books, the second-round clash at the 2025 Madrid Masters proved to be the end of the road for Rohan Bopanna and Ben Shelton. In a match that pushed both pairs to their absolute limits, the Indo-American duo fell to the Argentinian specialists Máximo González and Andrés Molteni.
Match Summary
The match was a masterclass in clay-court doubles, lasting nearly two hours and decided by the slimmest of margins:
- Final Score: 4-6, 7-6(5), [9-11]
- The Turning Point: After dropping the first set, Bopanna and Shelton showed incredible grit to snatch the second-set tiebreak. However, the “Match Tiebreak” (the first to 10 points) was a see-saw affair. Bopanna and Shelton fought off multiple match points before finally succumbing 9-11 in the decider.
A Legacy Cemented
Despite the exit, the 2025 Madrid Masters will be remembered as the tournament where Bopanna solidified his “Legend” status.
The 45-Year Milestone: By winning his opening-round match, Bopanna became the oldest man ever to win a match at an ATP Masters 1000 event. At 45 years and one month, he proved that his reflexes and tactical mind remain among the best in the world.
The Bopanna-Shelton Synergy
The partnership between the 45-year-old Bopanna and the 22-year-old Shelton was one of the stories of the clay season. Their run in Madrid, combined with a quarterfinal finish in Monte Carlo and a strong showing in Munich, proved that Bopanna’s veteran savvy is the perfect foil for Shelton’s explosive left-handed power.
Photos from the match –
(Credits – Maria Angeles Chico Orte)
