Tennis gave me everything; now it's time to chase new dreams: Rohan Bopanna
After a remarkable career spanning more than two decades, Indian tennis legend Rohan Bopanna an nounced his retire ment from profes sional tennis earli er this month. A Grand Slam cham pion, former world No 1 doubles player, and one of India’s most respected sporting fig ures, his journey has been defined by longevity, com mitment and humility. As he steps into a new chap ter, he speaks to us about life after tennis, his big gest learnings, and his vi sion for the future of Indian tennis. Excerpts:
‘I WANTED TO WALK AWAY ON MY OWN TERMS, WHILE I WAS STILL PLAYING GOOD TENNIS’
Rohan tells us retirement was a gradual deci sion. “I wanted to finish while I was still play ing good tennis and walk away on my own terms. I’ve achieved more than I ever dreamt of — becoming a Grand Slam champion , reaching No 1, winning medals for India. I felt at peace with what I’d accomplished, and that’s when I knew it was the right time,” he says, adding that retiring was less about physical strain and more about spending time with family and giving back to the sport.
‘AGE WAS NEVER A LIMIT; MINDSET WAS EVERYTHING’
Playing into his 40s, Rohan redefined longevity in In dian sport. “It all comes down to mindset. For me, it was always about com peting, testing myself, en joying what I do. I never thought, ‘I’m 40 or 45.’ As long as I enjoyed the game and performed at the top level, I kept going,” he says, adding, “Exploring new things while still com peting kept me grounded and motivated.”
‘THE BIGGEST THING I LEARNED WAS TO NEVER HOLD YOURSELF BACK WITH TIMELINES OR DOUBTS’ Looking back, he says his biggest lesson was not to box himself into expectations. “There are no limitations. Every stage of your ca reer is an opportunity to learn and grow. That’s something I tell young players all the time — don’t see age or ranking as a limita tion; see it as another chance to improve,” he says.
‘THE ENERGY OF YOUNG PLAYERS GENUINELY EXCITES ME’
Now focused on mentoring India’s next gen eration, Rohan is energised by what he sees. He tells us, “At my academy, the focus is on developing players who can compete global ly, not just nationally. I get to watch them play, guide them and help them build resil ience — something I learned over 25-30 years. What excites me most is their confi dence and openness. They’re more expressive and fearless, and that’s refreshing.” As he transitions into coaching and mentoring, Rohan wants to build a world class tennis ecosystem in India. “My idea is to have a space with everything — top coaching, physios, recovery centres, fitness experts, and accommodation nearby. When everything is in one place, players save time and energy and can focus on improving,” he explains, and adds that he wants young Indian players to have access to the kind of system he never had growing up. “If we can provide that foundation, Indian tennis can truly take off globally," he says.
‘PLAYERS TODAY BENEFIT FROM A LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE AND ACCESS WE DIDN’T HAVE GROWING UP’ Ask him what he’d tell his younger self, and he says, “I’d tell him to find a centre with all the facilities and get the best training possible. Back then, we didn’t have access to the knowledge or infrastruc ture kids have today. Now, players can learn so much online from coaches around the world. That kind of exposure would have made a huge difference.”
‘NOW I DON’T HAVE TO PLAN A TRIP TO COORG TO SEE MY PARENTS’
If there’s one place that truly grounds him, it’s his hometown, Coorg. Even now, Rohan speaks fondly of his roots — growing up amid lush coffee plantations and misty hills. “Coming from Coorg, coffee is in my DNA; tennis came much later,” he says, with a laugh. Sharing his plans for the years ahead, he says, “Now I don’t have to plan a trip to Coorg to see my parents. I can just pick up the car and drive there — it’s such a comforting feeling.” He adds that he hopes to spend more time back home, enjoying the slower pace of life and perhaps even tending to the family’s coffee plantations.
‘TENNIS GAVE ME FRIENDSHIPS ACROSS THE GLOBE THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME’
Reflecting on the relationships he’s built, he says, “For 25–30 years, tennis was like a second home. I’ve travelled to over 50 countries, and in each one, I’ve built friendships that will last a lifetime. The beautiful part of tennis is that while it begins with competition, it ends with connection. I could go to any of those countries today and have someone to meet and show me around. That’s really special.” These bonds, he adds, made the lonely grind of professional tours far more meaningful.
‘IT FEELS AMAZING TO F INALLY SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY AT HOME’
Rohan says retirement feels both “strange and satisfying”. “It’s really amazing to be at home. Tennis has given me everything — discipline, learning, friendships — but I always knew there would be life after tennis. Now I’m enjoying being with my wife and daughter. I’ve missed a lot of family time over the years, so this feels like the right moment to step away from competing,” he says.
‘I WANTED TO WALK AWAY ON MY OWN TERMS, WHILE I WAS STILL PLAYING GOOD TENNIS’
Rohan tells us retirement was a gradual deci sion. “I wanted to finish while I was still play ing good tennis and walk away on my own terms. I’ve achieved more than I ever dreamt of — becoming a Grand Slam champion , reaching No 1, winning medals for India. I felt at peace with what I’d accomplished, and that’s when I knew it was the right time,” he says, adding that retiring was less about physical strain and more about spending time with family and giving back to the sport.
Playing into his 40s, Rohan redefined longevity in In dian sport. “It all comes down to mindset. For me, it was always about com peting, testing myself, en joying what I do. I never thought, ‘I’m 40 or 45.’ As long as I enjoyed the game and performed at the top level, I kept going,” he says, adding, “Exploring new things while still com peting kept me grounded and motivated.”
‘THE BIGGEST THING I LEARNED WAS TO NEVER HOLD YOURSELF BACK WITH TIMELINES OR DOUBTS’ Looking back, he says his biggest lesson was not to box himself into expectations. “There are no limitations. Every stage of your ca reer is an opportunity to learn and grow. That’s something I tell young players all the time — don’t see age or ranking as a limita tion; see it as another chance to improve,” he says.
‘THE ENERGY OF YOUNG PLAYERS GENUINELY EXCITES ME’
Now focused on mentoring India’s next gen eration, Rohan is energised by what he sees. He tells us, “At my academy, the focus is on developing players who can compete global ly, not just nationally. I get to watch them play, guide them and help them build resil ience — something I learned over 25-30 years. What excites me most is their confi dence and openness. They’re more expressive and fearless, and that’s refreshing.” As he transitions into coaching and mentoring, Rohan wants to build a world class tennis ecosystem in India. “My idea is to have a space with everything — top coaching, physios, recovery centres, fitness experts, and accommodation nearby. When everything is in one place, players save time and energy and can focus on improving,” he explains, and adds that he wants young Indian players to have access to the kind of system he never had growing up. “If we can provide that foundation, Indian tennis can truly take off globally," he says.
‘NOW I DON’T HAVE TO PLAN A TRIP TO COORG TO SEE MY PARENTS’
If there’s one place that truly grounds him, it’s his hometown, Coorg. Even now, Rohan speaks fondly of his roots — growing up amid lush coffee plantations and misty hills. “Coming from Coorg, coffee is in my DNA; tennis came much later,” he says, with a laugh. Sharing his plans for the years ahead, he says, “Now I don’t have to plan a trip to Coorg to see my parents. I can just pick up the car and drive there — it’s such a comforting feeling.” He adds that he hopes to spend more time back home, enjoying the slower pace of life and perhaps even tending to the family’s coffee plantations.
‘TENNIS GAVE ME FRIENDSHIPS ACROSS THE GLOBE THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME’
Reflecting on the relationships he’s built, he says, “For 25–30 years, tennis was like a second home. I’ve travelled to over 50 countries, and in each one, I’ve built friendships that will last a lifetime. The beautiful part of tennis is that while it begins with competition, it ends with connection. I could go to any of those countries today and have someone to meet and show me around. That’s really special.” These bonds, he adds, made the lonely grind of professional tours far more meaningful.
‘IT FEELS AMAZING TO F INALLY SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY AT HOME’
Rohan says retirement feels both “strange and satisfying”. “It’s really amazing to be at home. Tennis has given me everything — discipline, learning, friendships — but I always knew there would be life after tennis. Now I’m enjoying being with my wife and daughter. I’ve missed a lot of family time over the years, so this feels like the right moment to step away from competing,” he says.
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