Coimbatore To Paris 2024: N Sriram Balaji Eyes Doubles Tennis Medal With Rohan Bopanna In Debut Olympics

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Rohan Bopanna and N. Sriram Balaji are set to represent India in the men’s doubles tennis event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Bopanna, ranked World No. 4, has been a dominant force in doubles tennis, securing India's quota with ease. Despite having multiple Indian partners to choose from, he selected N Sriram Balaji, who will make his Olympics debut.

N Sriram Balaji To Pair With Rohan Bopanna at Olympics

In an exclusive interview with myKhel, Balaji expressed his excitement and gratitude for being chosen by Bopanna. “First of all, I'm really happy that Rohan picked me," he said. "It’s like a dream come true for me." He acknowledged that Yuki Bhambri, who is ranked higher, might have been an obvious choice, but Bopanna's decision has filled him with immense pride.

For Balaji, representing India at the Olympics is a significant milestone. "It's always a special moment when you can represent a country in any form of competition, but the Olympics is one of the highest levels of competition. It's a privilege and an honour for me," he shared.

Experience at Clay Courts

Balaji's familiarity with the Paris venue, having played at the French Open this year, is expected to be advantageous. "I got familiar with the venue and the conditions there. Playing a couple of matches at Roland Garros will definitely help me acclimatize for the Olympics," he noted.

Rohan Bopanna had a great 2024. First, he won the Australian Open with his doubles partner Matthew Ebden, becoming the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title. In addition to the Australian Open, the pair also won the Miami Open this year.

Reflecting on Bopanna's impressive form this year, Balaji said, "He's been world number one this year, and the level he's playing at is amazing. I'm really happy to share the court with him." This partnership isn’t new, as the duo has previously teamed up for Davis Cup ties and an ATP 250 event.

Balaji's Performance in 2024

Balaji, along with his doubles partner Andre Begemann, won the Challenger Cagliari Open and also reached the semifinals in both the ATP Houston and the Challenger Francavilla tournaments.

The 34-year-old also reflected on his recent performance at the Challenger Perugia, where he and Andre Begemann reached the finals. "We managed to handle the tough conditions well until the finals. We take a lot of positives from that experience," he said.

His journey from Coimbatore to Germany, transitioning from singles to focusing on doubles at age 27, has been pivotal. "I realised my limitations in singles and decided to switch to doubles, aiming to break into the top 20," Balaji explained.

Balaji faced Bopanna and his partner Matthew Ebden at the French Open this year, an experience he found challenging yet insightful. "It's tough to play against someone you look up to, but once the match progressed, I focused on the game plan," he recounted.

Looking ahead, Balaji and Bopanna will play together in tournaments like the Hamburg 500 and Umag 250 before heading to Paris. "We’re planning to play some tournaments together to get ready for the Olympics," Balaji confirmed. With this preparation, they aim to bring home a historic medal for India.