It was not a perfect way to end his India career but Rohan Bopanna would take the early exit from the Paris Olympics on the chin, content that he could live his dream for 22 years.
Bopanna and N. Sriram Balaji lost to the French duo of Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Gael Monfils 7-5, 6-2 in the men’s doubles first round under lights at Court 12 on Sunday night.
An Olympic medal has eluded Indian tennis since Leander Paes’ historic singles bronze medal at the Atlanta Games in 1996. Bopanna came close to break the jinx in 2016 but finished fourth with Sania Mirza in the mixed event.
“This will definitely go down as my last event for the country. I totally understand where I am and now, I am just going to be enjoying the tennis circuit as long as that goes,” Bopanna said, ruling himself out from the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
He has already announced his retirement from the Davis Cup