Rohan Bopanna, the world number four in doubles tennis, has chosen N Sriram Balaji as his partner for the upcoming Paris Olympics. This decision comes after Balaji’s impressive performance at the French Open.
Bopanna, a seasoned player at 44, has the privilege of choosing his partner for the Olympics as he ranks within the top 10 players globally. His choice, Balaji, has shown promising talent and potential, especially with his recent performance at the French Open.
Sriram Balaji gave a tough fight for Rohan Bopanna
Balaji, along with his Mexican partner MA Reyes-Varela Martinez, put up a strong fight against the formidable duo of Bopanna and Australia’s Matthew Ebden in the men’s doubles third round at the French Open. Balaji’s strong serve and impressive performance at the net, both from the baseline and the net, convinced Bopanna that Balaji was the best choice for the Paris Olympics.
This is not the first time Bopanna has represented India at the Olympics. He came close to winning a medal at the Rio Games, but he and Sania Mirza lost the mixed doubles bronze match to the Czech Republic’s Radek Stepanek and Lucie Hradecka.
📢📢BIG TENNIS UPDATE
Men's Doubles WR4⃣ Rohan Bopanna has picked N. Sriram Balaji as his partner for #Paris2024 after his impressive performance at the #FrenchOpen
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) is unlikely to have any objection with the choice.
(ℹ️: PTI) pic.twitter.com/VyIZ7sBEch
— The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) June 4, 2024
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) is expected to approve Bopanna’s choice. AITA Secretary General Anil Dhupar expressed no objection to Bopanna playing with Balaji, who is currently ranked 84. Dhupar praised Balaji’s performance, noting his strong serve and his impressive performance on clay at the ongoing French Open.
The final decision will be made after the International Tennis Federation (ITF) publishes the final list following the conclusion of the French Open. The selection panel, headed by former Davis Cup player Nandan Bal, also hinted that they would support Bopanna’s choice.
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