The Indian challenge at the Australian Open 2025 came to a disappointing end on Tuesday, January 21, when veteran tennis player Rohan Bopanna and his Chinese partner Shuai Zhang were eliminated from the mixed doubles competition. The duo lost in a nail-biting quarter-final match to the Australian pair of John Peers and Olivia Gadecki, in what was an emotional and tightly contested affair. The match took place at the Kia Arena in Melbourne Park, with the local crowd providing a vociferous backing to the Australian team.
Bopanna and Zhang looked in control for most of the match, particularly in the opening set, which they won comfortably 6-2. The Indian-Chinese pair showed impressive coordination, with Bopanna showcasing his exceptional single-handed backhand winners, which had the crowd on their feet. His powerful serves and well-executed shots seemed to give them an edge over their opponents. However, despite their strong performance in the first set, they were unable to maintain their momentum in the subsequent stages of the match.
The turning point came in the second set when Bopanna and Zhang, despite a strong start, allowed the Australian pair to break Zhang’s serve early. That moment shifted the tide in favor of Peers and Gadecki. With the crowd roaring behind them, the Australians began to find their rhythm, and they took the second set 6-4, forcing a super tie-breaker. The shift in momentum was palpable, and despite Bopanna and Zhang’s best efforts, they couldn’t regain control of the match.
In the super tie-breaker, Bopanna and Zhang held a narrow 10-9 lead, just a point away from securing the match. However, Bopanna made a rare mistake at a crucial moment, returning John Peers' serve into the net, which allowed the Australians to stay alive. It was a moment of intense tension, and when Zhang served at match point, the Australian duo seized the opportunity. They managed to secure the mini-break and clinched the match 11-9, sending them through to the semi-finals. The defeat was a tough pill to swallow for Bopanna and Zhang, as they had been so close to advancing, but their journey ended in heartbreaking fashion.
Bopanna's performance throughout the match was one of the highlights. He delivered an impressive 71 percent first-serve rate, winning 79 percent of points on his first serve. His powerful serving was complemented by his exceptional backhand winners, which were a spectacle to watch. The Indian fans present at the arena cheered every point he won, but despite his individual brilliance, Bopanna and Zhang could not find the consistency needed to close out the match. Their failure to convert key moments into points ultimately cost them dearly.
The loss was especially painful for Bopanna, who had previously won the Australian Open men’s doubles title in 2024 alongside Matthew Ebden. In fact, Bopanna had hoped to make a deep run in the mixed doubles after his men’s doubles exit in the first round, where he was paired with Colombian Nicolas Barrientos. Bopanna’s early exit from the men’s doubles had already been a setback, and now the mixed doubles defeat compounded the disappointment for the Indian tennis star.
Adding to India’s woes, N. Sriram Balaji and his Mexican partner Miguel Reyes-Varela were also eliminated in the first round of the mixed doubles competition, further ending hopes of a significant Indian presence in the tournament. On the singles front, Sumit Nagal, the only Indian player in the men’s singles draw, also exited the tournament early. Nagal faced the 26th seed Tomas Machac in the first round, and despite putting up a fight, he was knocked out of the tournament. His early exit meant that there would be no Indian representation in the singles competitions for the rest of the event.
Though the Indian contingent faced several setbacks at the Australian Open, their performances were not without merit. Bopanna, in particular, proved that despite his advancing years, he still had the ability to compete at the highest level, with his strong serve and backhand remaining crucial weapons in his arsenal. However, the defeat in the mixed doubles quarter-finals marked the end of India’s involvement in the tournament, as no other Indian players remained in contention.
The Indian tennis team can take pride in their performances and will look to bounce back stronger in future events. Bopanna’s grit and resilience, coupled with the passion shown by Indian tennis players, remain a testament to the country’s growing presence in the international tennis circuit.
