Australian Open 2024 results: Rohan Bopanna wins men's doubles Grand Slam title at 61st attempt
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Rohan Bopanna (right) was contesting a 61st men's doubles Grand Slam event
It took 61 attempts, with 19 different partners, but Rohan Bopanna finally won his first men's doubles Grand Slam title to set yet more records.
The 43-year-old Indian, already set to become the oldest men's doubles number one, became the oldest major men's doubles winner at the Australian Open.
He and Matthew Ebden beat Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6 (7-0) 7-5 in Saturday's final.
"[It's] without a doubt the best moment in my career," Bopanna said.
"I'm playing my best tennis of my life."
Bopanna now tops the Open era list for the most attempts made before winning a men's doubles Grand Slam title, surpassing American Rajeev Ram's 58.
And at 43 years and 329 days, he has become the oldest man to win a Grand Slam doubles title.
Since teaming up with Australian Ebden at the start of last year, he has set a number of records, including becoming the oldest Masters champion, the oldest finalist at a Grand Slam, and the oldest player to win a match at the ATP Finals.
Bopanna, who will top the world rankings for the first time on Monday, threw his racquet in the air and fell flat on his back before chest-bumping with Ebden after they sealed the win in Melbourne.
"He's young at heart, he's a champion, he's a warrior," Ebden said of his partner.
The victory came in Bopanna's 17th attempt in the Australian Open men's doubles event, which equals the record held by his compatriot Leander Paes.
During the trophy presentation Bopanna revealed he had considered quitting the sport a couple of years ago.
"I sent a video message saying I was going to call it a day because I was not winning matches at all," said Bopanna, who will share prize money of 730,000 Australian dollars (£377,700) with Ebden.
"I went five months without winning a match and I thought that was going to be the end of my journey.
"I think that perseverance inside me just kept me going. I really changed so many things and I found a wonderful partner, so thank you."
Age is just a number: Bopanna's career achievements
2009: Wins his first ATP doubles title with American partner Eric Butorac
2010: Reaches his first Grand Slam men's doubles final at the US Open with Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
2011: Makes his top-10 debut in doubles.
2012: Wins first Masters doubles title with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi and they finish as runners-up in the ATP World Tour Finals
2017: Wins his first mixed doubles Grand Slam title, partnering Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski in the French Open
2023: Becomes the oldest Masters champion partnering Ebden, was the oldest finalist at a Grand Slam on reaching the final of the US Open, and the oldest player to win a match at the ATP Finals
2024: Bopanna notched his 500th doubles win in the third round of the Australian Open, and at 43 years and 329 days became the oldest man to win a Grand Slam doubles title. On Monday at 43 years and 331 days he will become the oldest world number one in the men's doubles rankings