Bopanna reveals the lesson that kept him hungry for Grand Slam titles

Ahead of Wimbledon 2026, Indian tennis legend Rohan Bopanna looked back on the advice that guided him through a career spanning more than two decades and the perseverance that eventually helped him achieve his dream of winning a Grand Slam title.

Bopanna, who won the men’s doubles title at the 2024 Australian Open, said one of the most important lessons he received came from his childhood idol and two-time Wimbledon champion Stefan Edberg.

Advertisement

“We are fortunate enough to have this kind of community where we can reach out to athletes and legends of the sport. I remember once, back in the day, meeting my role model, Stefan Edberg, who remains my role model even today,” Bopanna told JioStar.

The Indian star recalled a conversation with Edberg that left a lasting impact on him and influenced the way he approached his career.

“I happened to be chatting with him and he said, ‘When you’re playing the sport, never look at what your peers are doing. Do what works best for you. Don’t do something just because someone else is doing it. Look at your strengths, work on them, and build on them.’ Coming from someone I watched growing up, especially at Wimbledon, it was advice that I carried throughout my journey,” he added.

Bopanna admitted that when success came early in his career, he believed bigger achievements would follow quickly. Instead, he had to wait more than a decade before finally lifting a Grand Slam trophy.

His breakthrough finally came at the 2024 Australian Open, where he became the oldest first-time men’s doubles Grand Slam champion in history. The title was a reward for years of hard work, persistence and belief, qualities that helped him remain competitive at the highest level of the sport for more than two decades.

“When it all came quickly, I thought, ‘Oh, next year everything else will change.’ Little did I know that it would take another 13 years for it to happen. But I’m glad I stuck around.”

“I stayed with the grind and did all the right things. I think that’s what you need to do to remain relevant in the sport. That’s where I felt you and I are very similar, we’ve stayed relevant and competitive because there are always a lot of people trying to take your spot, chasing what you’ve achieved. I think that experience helped as well,” Bopanna stated.