INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Yoga and ability to relax helping Indian prolong his careerNEW YORK: Rohan Bopanna is not chasing age records, least of all those 'oldest'
That might come as a surprise given the enthusiasm with which he has been picking them up lately
On second thoughts, considering they translate to a long and successful career, the 43-year-old will keep them
Happily.When Bopanna and Matthew Ebden, the US Open's sixth seeds, moved past the French pair of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut
in the semifinals, the Indian became the oldest Grand Slam finalist of the Open Era
At 43 years and 6 months, he beat Daniel Nestor's record by three months
Earlier this year, when Bopanna and Ebden claimed the Indian Wells title, the 6ft 4' Kodava became the oldest ever ATP Masters
winner."Nestor sent me a kind message," Bopanna deadpanned
"Not really!" he guffawed seconds later."As an athlete, the idea is to go out there, play well and win matches, these records keep
happening, and it is fantastic to be part of it along the way," he said, hastening to add, "If you have played at a high level for a long
time, this is possible."Bopanna and Ebden, who lost in the first round of the Australian Open and Roland Garros, made the semifinals at
Wimbledon.Ebden, who was born in Durban, South Africa, moved with his family to Australia when he was 12
The 35-year-old was ranked 39 in singles in 2018
"At the end of my singles career I thought I now have a doubles career for another five years, I am there at 40," Ebden said, patting his
"Bops is pushing for more, sky's the limit really.""I'm learning from Bops on the longevity thing, the way he approaches the season, life
in general," the Aussie said
"He finds a good balance and at the end of the day he's happy to switch off, not take life, yourself or things too seriously
me."When they decided to play together at the end of last season, Ebden had a question for the Indian
"He wanted to know if I was committed to playing the whole season," Bopanna said.
