India's Rohan Bopanna and his partner Matthew Ebden from Australia faced disappointment as they were eliminated from the men's doubles competition at Wimbledon. The sixth-seeded duo put up a spirited fight against top seeds Wesley Koolhof from the Netherlands and Neal Skupski from Great Britain, but ultimately lost in straight sets with a score of 5-7, 4-6.
Bopanna, at 43 years old, had the chance to become the oldest Grand Slam champion in the Open Era across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. However, his dream fell short with this defeat. Nonetheless, Bopanna and Ebden showcased their skills in the quarterfinals, where they made a remarkable comeback after losing the first set to defeat the Dutch pair of Tallon Griekspoor and Bart Stevens with a score of 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-2.
Earlier this year, Bopanna reached the Australian Open final alongside Sania Mirza, highlighting his prowess in doubles. He also achieved success in men's doubles with Ebden, securing two ATP titles. This Wimbledon campaign marked Bopanna's third appearance in the semifinals at the prestigious tournament, with his previous semifinal appearance dating back to 2015.
Bopanna has made a significant impact in men's doubles throughout his career, having reached four Grand Slam semifinals. His notable achievement includes being a runner-up at the 2010 US Open. Although his journey at Wimbledon has come to an end, Bopanna's remarkable performances continue to leave a lasting impact in the world of tennis.
Following his defeat, fans took to social media to leave their reactions. Most fans called it an inspiring run for Bopanna at 43 while also acknowledging that it was an inspiring at the Grass-court grand slam while it lasted.
Have a look at some of the reactions here:
(With Inputs From PTI)