India's tennis campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics ended on a sour note as both Sumit Nagal and the doubles team of Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji were ousted in their opening matches at the iconic Stade Roland Garros. The early exits marked a disheartening conclusion for the Indian contingent, which had hoped to make a significant impact in the competition.
Sumit Nagal, who is currently ranked 80th in the world, faced a tough opponent in France's Corentin Moutet, ranked 68th globally. Nagal started the match with determination but ultimately fell short after a hard-fought three-set battle. The final scoreline read 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 in favor of Moutet. Despite a strong comeback in the second set, Nagal was unable to maintain his momentum in the deciding set, resulting in his exit from the tournament.
In the doubles category, the unseeded Indian pair of Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji faced the formidable French duo of Gael Monfils and Édouard Roger-Vasselin. The match, which lasted 76 minutes, saw Bopanna and Balaji lose 7-5, 6-2. The Indian pair struggled to find their rhythm against the experienced French team, leading to their early elimination from the event.
Following his defeat, veteran Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna made a significant announcement regarding his future in the sport. Bopanna revealed that he would retire from representing India, confirming that he would not participate in the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. However, he plans to continue competing in ATP Tour events, focusing on his professional career.
Reflecting on his illustrious career, Bopanna expressed a mix of pride and nostalgia. "This will definitely go down as my last event for the country. I totally understand where I am, and now, I am just going to enjoy the tennis circuit as long as that goes. This is already a big bonus for where I am. I never even thought that I'll be representing India for two decades. Right from 2002, making my debut and 22 years later still getting to represent India. I'm extremely proud of that," Bopanna shared.
Despite a decorated career, an Olympic medal has remained elusive for Indian tennis since Leander Paes clinched a bronze in the singles category at the Atlanta Games in 1996. Bopanna came close to winning a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he and Sania Mirza finished fourth in the mixed doubles event.
Bopanna, who had previously announced his retirement from the Davis Cup, reminisced about some of his most memorable moments representing India. He highlighted his victory against Ricardo Mello during the India-Brazil Davis Cup tie in 2010 as one of his cherished memories. Additionally, he fondly recalled winning his first men's doubles Grand Slam and achieving the world No. 1 ranking. Bopanna also expressed heartfelt gratitude towards his wife, Supriya, for her unwavering support and sacrifices throughout his career.
As India looks ahead, the early exits at the 2024 Paris Olympics serve as a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead for Indian tennis on the global stage. With veterans like Bopanna stepping down from international duties, the focus will now shift to nurturing and developing the next generation of tennis talent in the country. The hope remains that future athletes will carry forward the legacy and strive to bring home the much-coveted Olympic medals for India.