Australian Open 2025: Rohan Bopanna and Nicolas Barrientos lose in first round of men's doubles

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Australian Open 2025: Rohan Bopanna and his new doubles partner, Nicolas Barrientos of Colombia, made an early exit from the Australian Open 2025 after a hard-fought first-round match against Spain's Pedro Martinez and Jaume Munar. The 14th-seeded pair fell 5-7, 6-7 (5) in a contest lasting nearly two hours.

The Indo-Colombian duo started on a steady note, confidently holding their serves in the early games. However, the Spanish team's sharp net play and baseline consistency turned the tide. A late break in the first set sealed the opener for Martinez and Munar, leaving Bopanna and Barrientos to regroup.

The second set proved to be a roller-coaster. Martinez and Munar surged ahead 5-3, seemingly in control to close out the match. Yet, a spirited response from Bopanna and Barrientos saw them level the score at 5-5, breaking their opponents' serve at a critical juncture.

The tie-break showcased tense exchanges, but the Spanish pair kept their nerves to edge past the seasoned Bopanna and his new partner, securing a 7-5 win to close the match.

For Bopanna, who famously won the 2024 Australian Open alongside Australian partner Matthew Ebden, this year's campaign marked a significant transition. Last year's triumph etched Bopanna's name in history as the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era. However, his partnership with Ebden ended after the 2024 ATP Finals, prompting the veteran to team up with Barrientos.

The loss signals a challenging start for the new pairing, but it remains to be seen how they fare in the season ahead. At 44, Bopanna continues to defy age barriers, and his vast experience could prove instrumental in adapting to the new partnership dynamics.

In other Indian tennis news, Sumit Nagal, the country's top-ranked singles player, also faced a first-round exit earlier this week. Nagal went down to Czech Republic's world No. 25 Tomas Machac in straight sets.

With both Indian participants bowing out early, the Australian Open 2025 leaves fans hoping for stronger performances in future tournaments.