Rohan Bopanna, India’s senior tennis player, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday in New Delhi, where he gave him the racket that helped him win the Australian Open 2024 last week. Bopanna posted photos of himself representing the Australian Open Cup and his racket with Modi, thanking him for acknowledging his accomplishments in Melbourne.
Taking to his X account, Bopanna wrote, “I had the privilege to meet our honourable Prime Minister Modi ji today. This acknowledgement is very humbling & it was my honour to present the very racket that led me to become World No. 1 and the AO grand slam champion. Your grace has left me inspired & encouraged, PMOIndia.”
I had the privilege to meet our honourable Prime Minister Modi ji today. This acknowledgement is very humbling & it was my honour to present the very racket that led me to become World no. 1 and the AO grand slam champion. Your grace has left me inspired & encouraged. @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/R01Ae00RrR
— Rohan Bopanna (@rohanbopanna) February 2, 2024
The 43-year-old Bopanna became the fourth Indian to win the Grand Slam title and top the ATP rankings, after the famous Sania Mirza, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati. At the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, Bopanna also made history by winning a gold medal in the mixed doubles alongside Rutuja Bhosale.
Bopanna, who won his first-ever Grand Slam title at the French Open in 2017, has been in fantastic form on the ATP Tour recently. He and Ebden recently had setbacks at the Paris Masters and Adelaide International, but they dominated at Melbourne Park during the Australian Open’s last two weeks.
At the Rod Laver Arena, the duo defeated the unseeded Italian duo of Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli with a thrilling 7-6, 7-5 victory.