Rohan Bopanna thread...

[jaydeep]

But, if Rohan enters top 10, there will be other options too for him besides partnering Leander.

[sameerph]

Haha. That becomes a reality now. Dodig/Melo lose in the SF at Roland Garros. So, Dodig will drop out of top 10 and Rohan will enter therein.

So, India is now assured of a qualification spot at Rio in mens doubles and Rohan will get to choose his doubles partner with anyone who is ranked.

The drama will start now.

[prashanthm]

Haha. That becomes a reality now. Dodig/Melo lose in the SF at Roland Garros. So, Dodig will drop out of top 10 and Rohan will enter therein.

So, India is now assured of a qualification spot at Rio in mens doubles and Rohan will get to choose his doubles partner with anyone who is ranked.

The drama will start now.

True, the drama will start now...
But it is a bit of a misnomer saying that he can choose his doubles partner, because he cannot. It makes him eligible and for the AITA to send in a pair without having to go through the eligibility list of combined rankings, that is all...

But the drama? well, there will be no shortage of that for sure...

[sameerph]

You are right, Prashanthm. This is from the qualification criteria for Rio-

Any doubles players ranked 10 or better based on the recognised international computer
ranking of 6 June 2016 will gain Direct Acceptance for the doubles event, providing:
i) their nominated partner has a recognised international singles or doubles
ranking on 6 June 2016
ii) they and their partner have been nominated as a doubles team by their
respective NOC/National Association, and
iii) the nomination does not bring the total number of competitors from that NOC
to more than six (6)

So, it is clear AITA/IOA will still have to nominate Rohan/any other player as India's doubles team for the event.

But, still let see what stand Rohan takes with all the drama which took place last time around.

[RohitG]

The drama will happen for Mixed doubles with Rohan saying he's a top-10 player while Leander saying he's in form for mixed with his French Open title. As far as men's doubles is concerned, it will be foolish, at least from Rohan's PR POV to not partner Paes. I actually don't mind either equation, even if Paes only gets to play men's doubles (he gets to conserve his energy) and that gets him his 7th Olympics. Not sure how the mixed chemistry will happen

[PKBasu]

RB has already said that he now gets to choose his doubles partner -- a thinly veiled threat to Leander not to try and play MxD, because RB can choose not to pick him as a partner in Men's Doubles, thereby scuppering LP's Olympic hopes altogether.

I think RB-Sania is a good pair, with a chance at perhaps a bronze. But LP shows repeatedly that, when it comes to the crunch points, he is the master. That is what will matter in repeated close matches at the Olympics.

Sadly, rationality will not prevail.

[vatsal323]

When is the entry deadline?

[sameerph]

For mens and women doubles ( & also singles) , the NOC's need to confirm the names by 16th June. However, mixed doubles entry is on-site from among those who are already there in singles or doubles and the deadline is 9th August.

Btw, the drama seems to have already begun with Rohan firing the first salvo -

Sania and I make the best team, says Bopanna

“Sania plays on the deuce court and I play on the ad court and my serve complements her huge forehand. Perhaps we make the best team, but that decision is solely hers. I do not think any of us should say, ‘I deserve it more’. A player knows who she’s comfortable with. Everyone should approach the Olympics in a positive frame of mind.”

[arjun2761]

I wish the AITA/IOC would also request that whichever pair they select (RB-LP or RB-Saketh) to play at least 2-3 ATP level events as preparation for the Olympics. If the selected players aren't already funded, they should be provided the funds to make the logistics work....

[Varma]

It's ridiculous that ATP didn't groom any players leading to Olympics. A few years back they shelled out as much as 30 lakhs each to several players in preparation towards Asian games. Don't know how they justify their antics!

- Varma

[sameerph]

This is an article on Rohan -

You don’t mess with the Rohan

[jaydeep]

Rohan and Florin r back at Cincinnati Masters in preparation for US open ... Please follow results in tournament thread

At $4.3M Western & Southern Open 2016, Cincinnati, USA

[R1] (7) Rohan Bopanna (IND)/ Florin Meargea (ROM) bye

[jaydeep]

At $566K Stockholm Open 2016, Sweden

[R1] (2) Rohan Bopanna (IND)/ Treat Huey (PHI) bt Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)/ Gilles Muller (LUX) 76(6) 63
[QF] (2) Rohan Bopanna (IND)/ Treat Huey (PHI) bt Johan Brunstrom (SWE)/ Andreas Siljestrom (SWE) 76(7) 64

[SF] (2) Rohan Bopanna (IND)/ Treat Huey (PHI) l (WC) Elias Ymer (SWE)/ Mikael Ymer (SWE) 36 46

Updated.

[jaydeep]

Rohan-Nestor having no seeding and having tough match considering their recent performance as pair.

At €2.46M Erste Bank Open 2016, Vienna, Austria

[R1] Rohan Bopanna (IND)/ Daniel Nestor (CAN) vs Pablo Cuevas (URU)/ Viktor Troicki (SRB)

[vparam]

[R1] Rohan Bopanna (IND)/ Daniel Nestor (CAN) l Pablo Cuevas (URU)/ Viktor Troicki (SRB) 46 46

Rohan seems to be losing matches these days at an unbelievable rate! What's going on with his game? Injuries, lack of form, or just the fact that he's getting older and has lost his quickness and footwork?