Paris Olympics 2024: Rohan Bopanna picks N Sriram Balaji as partner for doubles tennis

Rohan Bopanna has sent in the name of N Sriram Balaji as his preferred doubles partner for the Paris Olympics. All India Tennis Association (AITA), the national body, are unlikely to have any objection to the choice.

Bopanna, 44, wrote to AITA and also marked TOPS in the mail, conveying his decision.

Bopanna got a close look at Balaji during the ongoing French Open. The 34-year-old teamed up with MA Reyes-Varela Martinez and tested the combo of Bopanna and Matthew Ebden before losing the third round on Monday.

Balaji played well from the baseline with a strong serve backing his game and was equally impressive at the net — a performance that would have convinced Bopanna that the player from Coimbatore is the best option for him.

Bopanna came close to winning a medal at the Rio Games but he and Sania Mirza lost the mixed doubles bronze match to Czech Republic’s of Radek Stepanek and Lucie Hradecka.

”I have sent an email to AITA,” Bopanna told news agency PTI, adding that he will comment on his choice only after hearing back from the national federation.

Yuki Bhambri, India’s number two doubles player, was also in contention .

Bhambri, 31, made a first round exit from the French Open alongside Albano Olivetti but has enjoyed success on clay this season, winning the ATP 250 tournament in Munich and ending runner-up at another ATP 250 event in Lyon.

AITA Secretary General Anil Dhupar said he does not have any objection to Bopanna playing with Balaji, ranked 84, at the Paris Olympics.

”Rohan has written to us that he wants to play with Balaji. Balaji is a good player. He played well in Pakistan also, rising to the occasion. He also did well on clay at ongoing French Open. Balaji is a big server. If Rohan wants to play with him we have no objection to that,” said Dhupar.

”Let ITF publish the final list after the conclusion of French Open. Let’s see if Sumit Nagal also makes it. We will have a selection committee meeting and Bopanna’s decision will be conveyed to the panel which shall take a final call.”

The selection panel is headed by former Davis Cup player Nandan Bal, who also hinted that they would support Bopanna.

”In my personal opinion, we should give Rohan what he wants. At the end of the day, it’s his last shot at an Olympic medal and if he feels that it is better to play with Balaji, he would be sure of the choice,” Bal said.

”Still we will discuss the combination whenever AITA convenes the meeting.”

Former Davis Cupper Balram Singh, Mustafa Ghouse, and Sai Jailakshmi are the other members of the selection panel.

Bal said the AITA Secretary General indeed gives his input to the panel but ”does not interfere in the proceedings and the decision is taken independently by the panel.”

The ATP/WTA rankings on 10 June will be considered for entries. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has to notify all Associations about their qualified athletes by 12 June.

All national Olympic bodies will have to confirm their entries to the ITF by 19 June. The ITF will reallocate the unused quota places on 8 July.