Rohan Bopanna Selects N Sriram Balaji as Olympic Doubles Partner

Rohan Bopanna, India's veteran doubles specialist, has chosen N Sriram Balaji as his partner for the upcoming Paris Olympics. The decision was conveyed to the All India Tennis Association (AITA) in a letter, and is unlikely to face any objections.

Balaji, who impressed with his performance at the French Open, has been a consistent performer on the ATP Challenger Tour. His strong serve and impressive net play caught Bopanna's attention, who believes he is the ideal partner for his final shot at an Olympic medal.

Bopanna, who is only the third Indian to win a Grand Slam title, came close to winning a medal at the Rio Games in 2016. However, he and Sania Mirza lost the mixed doubles bronze match to the Czech combination of Radek Stepanek and Lucie Hradecka.

The 44-year-old Bopanna is determined to make the most of his last opportunity to win an Olympic medal. He believes that Balaji's skills and experience will complement his own, giving them a strong chance of success in Paris.

AITA Secretary General Anil Dhupar has expressed support for Bopanna's choice, stating that Balaji is a talented player who has proven himself on the international stage. The selection panel, headed by former Davis Cupper Nandan Bal, is also expected to endorse the decision.

Yuki Bhambri, India's number two doubles player, was also in contention for the spot. However, Balaji's impressive performance at the French Open and his strong partnership with Bopanna in the past seem to have swayed the decision in his favor.

The ATP/WTA rankings on June 10 will be considered for entries, and the ITF has to notify all Associations about their qualified athletes by June 12. All NOCs will have to confirm their entries to the ITF by June 19. The ITF will reallocate the unused quota places on July 8.

Tags: #Tennis, #Olympics, #RohanBopanna, #NSriramBalaji, #AITA