2012 Olympians Bopanna and Bhupathi—Nathan’s Blog
By: Nathan M. Cuny
As all rumors have been confirmed about Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna’s 2012 partnership in hopes of reaching the 2012 summer Olympics in London, the actuality of the team playing in the Olympics is still uncertain. Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupathi aren’t the only Indian players who have a shot at competing in India’s doubles team for the 2012 Olympics. We mustn’t forget Bhupathi’s former teammate Leander Paes.
World doubles No. 11, Rohan Bopanna, split the powerhouse IndoPak Express team between he and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi due to his Olympic aspirations. Bopanna confirmed that although teaming up with Bhupathi may help in his chances of playing in the Olympics, it doesn’t guarantee he and Bhupathi will be India’s first choice. In Bopanna’s Words, “As of now we have decided to start the year together. The Olympics have a lot of other technicalities (form, rankings) and we will see how it goes.”
Bopanna, in a time of yore, trained with Mahesh Bhupathi’s father, C. G. Krishna Bhupathi, for several years. This former tie, along with Bopanna and Bhupathi’s successful defeat of Japan in the Davis Cup play-off doubles this year may be one of several factors in the new pairing. However, their former success and similar playing strengths aren’t complete indicators that they will attain the title as 2012 Olympians. The spot goes to the players who show their strength just before the July-August games.
Bhupathi and Bopanna exhibit their first 2012 display of strength at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament, the Chennai Open. Rohan Bopanna did not progress past the tournament’s second round with his former teammate during the 2011 Chennai Open. His new teammate, Bhupathi, won last season’s Chennai Open when he and his former teammate made their first Indian Express comeback after 10 years.
Rohan Bopanna has to surpass World No.8 Indian doubles player, Leander Paes, for a spot in the Olympics. According to the chairman of India’s selection committee, Anil Dhuper, “As of today, Leander and Mahesh will be our first choice. But if tomorrow Rohan and Mahesh show great success, then why not them?” Reaching a ranking high of No.9 during 2011, Rohan Bopanna just may obtain his goal.
The 37 year old Mahesh Bhupathi reached his career high of No.1 many years ago in 1999. Considering Bhupathi is still a member of the Top 8 twelve years later, currently positioned as No.7, it’s no surprise Bhupathi will likely be a first choice at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Bhupathi made his last Olympic appearance in the 2008 Beijing Games with (five-time Olympian) Leander Paes. The duo lost in the quarter finals to Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka. Perhaps all India needs is a fresh player—namely, Rohan Bopanna—in their 2012 Olympics doubles team. If Bopanna plays as well as he did in Basel and the Paris Masters during 2011, his sudden change in partners may quell the shock it gave all IndoPak Express fans.
Topics: 2012 Olympic Games, Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna
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