Rohan Bopanna (right) and Sriram Balaji with physio Rebecca Van Orshaegen
Rohan Bopanna and Sriram Balaji spoke about their hopes of winning a tennis doubles medal at Paris Olympics 2024
Paris 2024 will feature three Indians competing in tennis for the first time since Leander Paes’ bronze medal triumph at Atlanta in 1996. Three-time Olympian and former World No. 1 doubles player Rohan Bopanna, and his partner in men’s doubles Sriram Balaji spoke exclusively with JioCinema in Paris, about their hopes of bringing home a tennis doubles medal and possibly competing against the Spanish duo of Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal.
Is this a dream come true and the greatest moment of your professional life?
Balaji: Definitely, it’s more than a dream come true for me. Thanks to everyone and Rohan for bringing me here. The Olympic dream has been a difficult story over the years for you. Just to be here in Paris and have the chance to contend for a medal, was it something you even thought was possible a few months ago?
Bopanna: Yes. I knew I would remain in the Top-10, especially after winning the Australian Open 2024. I knew that with a Top-10 ranking, we would have a team here in Paris 2024. I’ve been looking forward to this, I don’t think anything gets bigger or better than being at the Mecca of an event like this and representing the country at such a prestigious event. We have a great team, we’ve been working very hard in the last few days, and it’s beautiful to be back in Paris.
Clay courts are a challenge on their own, what is it like playing on this surface?
Balaji: Clay has got its pros and cons. I’ve been playing on clay for more than a decade, ever since I moved to Germany. So, I’ve been adapting to play on clay. Right now, with our doubles team style, I feel we both serve big and if we can make a lot of returns and put pressure, it’s going to be good for us.
One combination everyone talking about is Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal playing together. They don’t play a lot of doubles. Would you as a professional tennis player like to be a part of that matchup?
Balaji: I would like to face them but not in the early stages of the tournament. I’d like to get a couple of matches in and then play against them.
Can India expect a medal in tennis at Paris 2024?
Balaji: We hope so. We’re going to give our best and try for a medal.
Bopanna: I think we’re making sure we’re going out there fully ready. I don’t think we’re here to just represent but we will put our best foot forward and give it a real shot.
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