Rohan Bopanna did not instantly point out Reilly Opelka however he seemed to be addressing the American’s latest feedback in a prolonged message he posted on his Instagram.
After talking negatively about doubles up to now, the big-serving American bought again to shading that exact competitors this week.
Within the remark part of 1 Instagram submit, Opelka stated that tennis ought to “one hundred pc eliminate doubles” earlier than additionally stating that there’s “no such factor as a doubles specialist.”
Additionally, the 27-year-old stated that doubles gamers are nothing else however “failed singles gamers.”
“They need to 100% eliminate dubs. It’s for failed singles gamers. They don’t promote a single ticket, they take up sources…”
Reilly Opelka took to my IG feedback with one other fascinating tackle doubles… pic.twitter.com/DOvw6PkM81
— Christian’s Court docket (@christianscourt) February 19, 2025
And whereas the four-time ATP champion acquired some criticism and backlash from followers resulting from his robust doubles stance, his feedback additionally caught consideration from some gamers.
Bopanna: With the cash I earned, I helped underprivileged youngsters, offered training…
The 44-year-old Indian, who has been solely centered on doubles for the final decade and a half, has gained 26 titles within the competitors and has been ranked as excessive as No. 1 on the earth.
And he has made a stable dwelling out of tennis, netting $7.1 million over the course of his profession.
However for Bopanna, the titles and the cash aren’t a very powerful a part of his success – however the truth that he was ready to make use of his place to positively change lives.
“For everybody dismissing doubles tennis-understand this: enjoying doubles and incomes an earnings from it has given me the facility to provide again in ways in which really matter,” the 2024 Australian Open males’s doubles champion stated in a message posted on his Instagram Story.
“It has helped underprivileged youngsters uncover the game, offered training for over 30 ladies, and constructed an academy that nurtures future champions.
“And let me inform you – these benefiting from these alternatives do not care whether or not the help comes from singles or doubles earnings. What issues is that it is altering lives.
“But, there are these of their positions of privilege who sit again and debate who deserves kind of. They fail to know the larger picture-the true impression of this sport.
“Tennis is not nearly rankings or prize cash; it is concerning the doorways it opens, the lives it transforms, and the alternatives it creates. If you cannot respect that, then you do not really respect the sport.”
Final yr, Bopanna grew to become the oldest first-time world No. 1 in tennis historical past after reaching the feat on the age of 43 in 2024 January.
