Of lasting friendship and success
December 13, 2015, New Delhi, DHNS
Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna’s friendship spills into their on-court performances too.
The comfort level, the understanding and most importantly the instinct they show during their matches can only be developed after the experience of knowing each other over the years. They are familiar with each other’s style since the teen years and have rediscovered their old touch while playing for Indian Aces in the International Premier Tennis League.
The two have lost just one mixed doubles match this season and do not rule out the possibility of playing together on the international circuit in the future.
“Rohan was my first partner when I was 14-years-old, we have played together in the Hopman Cup too. And I think we didn't lose for 8-9 years. Over the years, we know each other so well, and are able to anticipate each other's games well too. There are so many things which go unsaid in our equation when we are playing. We just know how we are going to react to a certain situation in a match," said Sania.
"The beauty of our relationship is that it doesn't revolve around tennis. He is my best friend off the court too, so it doesn't mean that I have to play with him all the time. But yes, we would play great tennis together. I would love to partner him.
Bopanna, sitting beside her, nodded, "I agree."
Sania, however, evaded question on her mixed doubles partner for Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. "We have six months to decide on that. We will take it as it goes."
Bopanna was equally non-committal about whether he will play with Leander on Tour before the London Olympics. He has formed a successful partnership with Romanian Florin Mergea and he doesn’t plan to part ways with him.
"I am not going to break that partnership (with Mergea). For me and Leander to play together at the Olympics, we have to have the rankings. At current rankings we wouldn't even make the Masters Series," Bopanna said.
For the time, both Sania and Bopanna are busy enjoying themselves in turning out for Aces.
“We have got very solid players. Rohan and I win most of our mixed doubles matches. The most important thing is that we get along great. Tennis is such a lonely sport, we travel alone on the tour and solve our problems at an individual level. But the IPTL has been different. We are all enjoying the team bonding," said Sania.
Asked about IPTL’s India leg showing sparse attendance, Bopanna said, “We were told that lots of tickets were sold but the IPTL is still a work in progress and it’s very tough to fill a 18,000-capacity stadium. In the upcoming years we will see a development,” he said.
The comfort level, the understanding and most importantly the instinct they show during their matches can only be developed after the experience of knowing each other over the years. They are familiar with each other’s style since the teen years and have rediscovered their old touch while playing for Indian Aces in the International Premier Tennis League.
The two have lost just one mixed doubles match this season and do not rule out the possibility of playing together on the international circuit in the future.
“Rohan was my first partner when I was 14-years-old, we have played together in the Hopman Cup too. And I think we didn't lose for 8-9 years. Over the years, we know each other so well, and are able to anticipate each other's games well too. There are so many things which go unsaid in our equation when we are playing. We just know how we are going to react to a certain situation in a match," said Sania.
"The beauty of our relationship is that it doesn't revolve around tennis. He is my best friend off the court too, so it doesn't mean that I have to play with him all the time. But yes, we would play great tennis together. I would love to partner him.
Bopanna, sitting beside her, nodded, "I agree."
Sania, however, evaded question on her mixed doubles partner for Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. "We have six months to decide on that. We will take it as it goes."
Bopanna was equally non-committal about whether he will play with Leander on Tour before the London Olympics. He has formed a successful partnership with Romanian Florin Mergea and he doesn’t plan to part ways with him.
"I am not going to break that partnership (with Mergea). For me and Leander to play together at the Olympics, we have to have the rankings. At current rankings we wouldn't even make the Masters Series," Bopanna said.
For the time, both Sania and Bopanna are busy enjoying themselves in turning out for Aces.
“We have got very solid players. Rohan and I win most of our mixed doubles matches. The most important thing is that we get along great. Tennis is such a lonely sport, we travel alone on the tour and solve our problems at an individual level. But the IPTL has been different. We are all enjoying the team bonding," said Sania.
Asked about IPTL’s India leg showing sparse attendance, Bopanna said, “We were told that lots of tickets were sold but the IPTL is still a work in progress and it’s very tough to fill a 18,000-capacity stadium. In the upcoming years we will see a development,” he said.
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