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‘Coffee man’ Bopanna launches his own range of coffee

Knocking on the doors of 38, Rohan Bopanna is living up to the saying ‘age is just a number’.

By Chitrangada

Rohan Bopanna

Bengaluru, January 30: Knocking on the doors of 38, Rohan Bopanna is living up to the saying 'age is just a number’. The Indian tennis player proved his mettle after notching up runner-up finish at the just concluded Australian Open. Last year Bopanna had won the French Open mixed doubles title and this year he was within reaching distance of another Grand Slam title, but the Karnataka player along with partner Timea Babos went down fighting to Mate Pavic and Gabriela Dabrowski.

But his spirited show at the Australian Open showed that the Indian is very much at the top of his game and will be a title contender at the upcoming Grand Slams.

And upon returning from his exploits in Melbourne, the tennis player hailing from Coorg was seen in a completely different avatar altogether in the city on Tuesday. Coorg is known for its coffee estates, and that’s where our star hails from, and Bopanna in association with The Flying Squirrel launched his special range of speciality coffees, Rohan Bopanna’s Master Blend.

Speaking at the launch a jovial Bopanna who has shared his coffee with many players on the circuit including Australian Open runner up Marin Cilic revealed that the players call him the coffee man now. “The first day I walked into the locker room in Sydney, they said 'hey here comes the coffee man’! I’ve given it to a lot of players snd they want it now. From now on I have to carry lots since its in demand. I think I will end up carrying more coffee than clothes from now,” joked the 38-year-old.

Turning his attention to the final match which he and Babos lost 6-2, 4-6, 9-11 to Pavic and Dabrowski, Bopanna said, “Its the beauty of the sport. This morning when I was at the academy I was telling someone we had a match point and then I didn’t even touch the ball. It was two aces and a return winner. I felt like there wasn’t even a chance to win it, though it was so close. But that’s how super tie breaks go. First grand slam win we were two match points down and we won but here we were one match point up but we lost but that’s how super it is. Throughout the year on the ATP circuit that happens so often, so many matches I’m down and I’ve won and there are times I’ve been up but I’ve lost.

“Good part is I’m playing good tennis, irrespective of winning or not, of course winning is a much better feeling no doubt.”

Last year when he won the French Open Bopanna’s partner was Dabrowski, but this year the tennis ace was seen partnering Babos. Talking about his partnership Bopanna said, “Tt was a last minute partnership. We haven’t spoken much. Mixed doubles is such that you get a partner tournament to tournament. There are only four tournaments a year. We don’t practice much. First time I played with her was in the first round. I didn’t hit with her before or practice with her. But that’s how it goes. Looking at that I think we had a great run. I enjoyed playing with Timea. I don’t know if we will continue. But that is something we have to see before the French Open. ”

Moreover, the Karnataka player revealed that he wants to concentrate on his doubles partnership with Édouard Roger-Vasselin. “We want to really improve our game. In the past month we have played some good close matches. We are working and seeing what works for us as a team and what is going against us. Its work in progress. We have a long season to go. If it goes well we are just not looking at a partnership we will look at a long term partnership. Its a slow building process,” said a fitter looking Bopanna.

Bopanna was seen posting a lot of social media posts with Roger Federer, who won his 20th Grand Slam Title at Melbourne. Bopanna revealed that he had a practice session with Federer and it was always fun having a round with him. “I have practiced with him numerous times over the years and I know him very well. They asked me if I wanted to practice with him and I was up for it. He’s a lot of fun. You don’t get many opportunities like that. He enjoys his tennis. I learn from him a lot. We had a good time. For him winning 20 grand slams is exceptional. He’s proved age is just a number. Over the two years he’s proved that you can keep learning and keep fit irrespective of how much you have achieved. You can still learn and get better. Hats off to him. Tennis is at such a high level thanks to him and Nadal. Their rivalry has also pushed each other to get better.

“When I train with someone like him at the top level, its like after a few minutes I need a water break. Consistency and intensity of practice is much more higher and when you are playing with someone like him you learn a lot, its a lot of fun and it really helps me improve. Its not like he is giving you tips but the fact that you see the way he conducts himself and the way he trains, you can observe him and learn a lot,” signed off Bopanna.

Story first published: Tuesday, January 30, 2018, 20:36 [IST]
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