Australian Open 2025: India's campaign ends as Rohan Bopanna, Zhang Shuai loses in mixed doubles quarterfinals

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India's journey at the Australian Open 2025 came to an end when veteran Rohan Bopanna and his Chinese partner Zhang Shuai lost a hard-fought mixed doubles quarterfinal match.

The pair was defeated by the Australian duo of Olivia Gadecki and John Peers in a gripping contest that ended 2-6, 6-4, 11-9 at Melbourne Park on Tuesday -- January 21.

The Indo-Chinese team started the match in stellar form, breaking the Australian pair's serve twice in the first set. Their chemistry on court was evident as they dominated the early exchanges, securing the opening set 6-2 with relative ease. Bopanna and Shuai's clinical display kept Gadecki and Peers on the back foot, but the Australians came roaring back in the second set.

In the second set, the home team capitalised on early momentum, breaking serve in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. From there, Gadecki and Peers held their nerve, maintaining their service games with precision. Bopanna and Shuai tried to claw their way back, but the Australian pair's consistent play allowed them to level the match by claiming the second set 6-4.

The decider, a high-stakes super tie-break, was a nail-biter from start to finish. Both pairs battled fiercely, exchanging serves and points with remarkable intensity. Bopanna and Shuai had a golden opportunity to close out the match when they earned a match point at 9-8. However, they failed to convert it, giving the Australians a lifeline. Gadecki and Peers capitalized on the error and sealed the victory with an 11-9 triumph in the tie-break.

A Disappointing End for Indian Tennis

Rohan Bopanna's exit also marked the end of India's participation in the first Grand Slam of the year. The 44-year-old veteran had earlier been eliminated from the men's doubles event in the first round alongside Colombian partner Nicolas Barrientos. Despite his wealth of experience and past successes, Bopanna could not make a deeper run in either category.

Other Indian players also struggled to leave a mark at the tournament. Yuki Bhambri and his French partner Albano Olivetti exited in the first round of the men's doubles, while N. Sriram Balaji and his Mexican partner Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela reached the second round but could progress no further. Sumit Nagal, India's sole representative in the singles draw, lost to Czech player Tomas Machac in the opening round.