ROHAN BOPANNA DISCUSSES THE FUTURE OF DOUBLES, ADMITS 'BIGGER PICTURE' IS IMPORTANT
Former doubles No.1 Rohan Bopanna has shared his opinion on what tennis needs to do to help push doubles in the right direction amidst a period of uncertainty.
Bopanna, 45, is still active on the ATP Tour and is partnering Croatia's Ivan Dodig for the 2025 doubles season.
The sport has been left in limbo following the US Open's controversial decision to move the mixed doubles event to the opening week of qualifying, adding new format changes.
By entering the code TFS2025 you will receive 15% off the RRP on all non-sale items at our online store at www.racquetworld.com.au
Whilst that move was heavily criticised by fans and players, including Australia's Ellen Perez, former singles world No.17 Reilly Opelka turned heads by replying to one fan on Instagram, writing, "Doubles is for failed singles players" and that tennis should get rid of it.
A bombardment of posts on social media later condemned Opelka's opinion, with Bopanna sharing a heartfelt message.
Speaking to Brett Phillips on Monday night's 'The First Serve Live' at Indian Wells, Bopanna revealed that his post was not directed at Opelka in particular.
"When I put out that post it was nothing related to anybody's comment, it was just from the bottom of my heart," said the 2024 Australian Open men's doubles champion.
"I was sitting at Dubai Airport and I literally had these thoughts, and I said 'OK, let me put it into words and just put it out there'."
He then touched on the importance of doubles success to inspire the next generation in his home country of India, a population of nearly 1.5 billion people, before offering an explanation on why the doubles game has remained stagnant over the years.
"We've always had some great doubles champions from India, the biggest country in the world. Look at the players who made it in the small elite success through doubles," he said. "Whoever has picked up a tennis racquet in these past few years, they all need inspiration, and inspiration comes from local athletes, local heroes.
"I really believe that doubles [has] a great product. I think we just need to go out of our comfort zone and really look at it differently. Treat it as not a byproduct of the current events like singles; yes it's the main event, and people are coming for that, but we need to actually take that chance.
"People don't really want to change, but if something is not working, I think everyone needs to come together and say let's take a chance, let's look at it differently. Maybe have three or four courts only for doubles.
Last month, Brazilian duo Marcelo Melo and Rafael Matos clinched the doubles title in Rio, cheered on by a passionate home crowd to demonstrate the potential of doubles tennis.
Bopanna made reference to the pairing to support his argument that it's the individual players who need to be marketed better.
"I've heard [people] say that the teams don't stick together, so it makes it tough to market, but I think the marketing comes from their respective countries, like with Marcelo or Matos," he said. "No matter who Marcelo plays with, he's going to have that fan following come from Brazil.
"That is what they need to see. It's not about marketing the teams, it's about marketing the product and then, hence, you will have more success and more people watching."
During Opelka's crazy rant, he mentioned that doubles players "don't sell a ticket" and "don't turn a profit".
However, a mature and level headed Bopanna understands that the sport is more than just dollar signs, which shouldn't be the determining factor.
"It's not about who's bringing in what revenue or who's not getting revenue, it's about the bigger picture is what impact is giving back to the sport," he stated.
"If we look at it purely on revenue, there are so many things that can be changed, it's not only take out doubles and that's going to make a difference.
"That's where I believe everyone needs to sit down and look at the product and how we can do something differently than say let's just cut this off.
When asked if talks have materialised in the background between the players and the ATP, Bopanna said: "The discussions have been going on for a long time, but no one is really making that change. There's no concrete change."
Your Ultimate Tennis Destination! 🎾
Tennis Direct Australia is more than just a store - Australia’s #1 online tennis retailer, bringing you world-class brands, unbeatable value, and exceptional customer service to support your love for the game.
👉 Shop now at www.tennisdirect.com.au with a 15% storewide discount code: SERVE15, Valid until 31/12/2025 excludes clearance items, machines, court equipment and gift cards.
After following elite athletes for years one common lesson becomes clear: long-term success rarely depends on talent alone. Whether on a tennis court or inside a manufacturing facility consistent performance is built on discipline structured processes and continuous improvement. Rohan Bopanna's emphasis on looking at the "bigger picture" reflects the same mindset that many successful organizations adopt when they focus on refining the way work is performed rather than simply expecting people to work harder. This broader perspective naturally extends beyond sports into industrial engineering where understanding proven work measurement techniques helps organizations improve efficiency maintain quality and support sustainable productivity. Interestingly many of these systems are designed not to increase employee pressure but to eliminate unnecessary effort creating smarter…
The world of professional sports often teaches us the importance of planning patience and long-term thinking. Rohan Bopanna’s views about the future of doubles highlight how success is not only about immediate results but also about understanding the bigger picture. Interestingly the same approach applies to healthcare where informed decisions and proper guidance can create better outcomes for patients and families.
When people search for medical information understanding the complete journey can make complex situations easier to manage. Modern cancer care focuses on early detection accurate diagnosis personalized treatment plans and continuous support. Oncology plays an important role in helping patients understand their condition available therapies and recovery process. Specialists consider many factors including the patient’s overall health disease stage…
Rohan Bopanna’s thoughts on the future of doubles tennis highlight an important idea: success often comes from understanding changing needs and adapting with the right approach. Just like athletes look beyond immediate results and focus on long-term performance modern industries are also evolving by prioritizing efficiency comfort and sustainability. Interestingly this same mindset can be seen in the construction sector where innovative building methods are changing how people think about creating practical living and working spaces.
The shift toward smarter solutions has encouraged many people to explore alternatives that provide quality without unnecessary delays. Similar to how doubles players focus on teamwork and balance modern housing solutions focus on combining strength design and functionality. One example of this change is…
Rohan Bopanna’s views on the future of doubles tennis highlight an important idea: success is not only about individual performance but also about planning coordination and looking at the bigger picture. Interestingly the same approach applies to businesses as well. Just like athletes need proper strategies to maintain consistency organisations need structured systems to manage their operations finances and long-term goals.
When businesses focus on growth they often concentrate on customers sales and expansion. However behind every successful organisation there is a strong financial foundation. Areas such as taxation services compliance management accounting support and technology adoption help companies stay organised and prepared for future challenges. Businesses operating in multiple regions especially need awareness of international taxation because financial activities…
I really connected with the point about looking at the bigger picture because it applies far beyond tennis. Success often depends not just on short-term wins but on building something sustainable and meaningful over time. That perspective reminds me of how businesses in the hospitality industry approach growth. Quick campaigns can bring attention, but long-term value comes from strategy, innovation, and staying relevant to changing needs. That’s one of the reasons I’ve been studying hotel marketing, since it blends creativity with data-driven planning to create lasting impact and helps hotels strengthen relationships with guests while preparing for the future.