Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan began 2022 by winning the Adelaide International ATP 250 men's doubles title on Sunday (January 9). Teaming up for the first time, the Indian duo won the title with a hard-fought 7-6 (6), 6-1 win over Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo in Adelaide.
Two Indian players warmed up to the Australian Open 2022 with a big win. They were cheered on by Sania Mirza and Rajeev Ram of the USA from the stands on Sunday.
The men's doubles crown was Rohan Bopanna's 20th on the tour while the first for Ramkumar Ramanathan as the Indian pair defeated top-seeded pairing of Dodig and Melo in the final on Sunday.
Asked how different it was playing with Ramkumar than another compatriot and left-handed Divij Sharan, Bopanna said, "With Divij, we had to create a point, ensure that first volley opportunity is taken while with Ram, the point can be finished early.
"I am surprised not many Indians entered this event. If anyone had landed here, would have entered the field since not many players were there."
Serving to stay afloat in the set at 5-6, the Indian pair was up 40-30 when Dodig created a winner on Bopanna's serve that whizzed past Ramkumar on his right but the big-serving Coorgi hit an ace to drag it to a tie-breaker.
At 6-6, Bopanna found a service return on Melo's serve to earn their second set point and converted with his booming serve. It was one-way traffic in the second set with the Indian duo dominating all through.
Ramkumar, who was playing only in his second summit clash at this level, has ended a runner-up at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in 2018.
"When Ramkumar is serving by your side, you can finish the point early, so that was an advantage," said Bopanna.
Bopanna and Ramkumar will split USD 18,700 as prize money and earned 250 ranking points each. The win would be a huge confidence booster for Ramkumar ahead of the Australian Open Qualifiers, where he will aim to make the singles main draw of a Grand Slam once again.
