On my pinboard - Rohan Bopanna

Presently ranked No 18 in the world on the ATP World Tour, Rohan Bopanna is a US Open finalist, Wimbledon semi-finalist, double Olympian and a global doubles phenomenon.

Placed third in the world, Rohan is also globally recognised for his work in the non-profit sector and has been honoured with the title of  ‘Champion For Peace’ for his work with friend Aisam Qureshi. He has just returned from the Rio Olympics 2016. Apart from tennis, Rohan loves relaxing with music, food and movies.

Music - Jason Derulo

“I am presently listening to Jason Derulo’s music and admire the way his talent, passion and personality come through in his music. I love Bollywood music and listen to it while travelling, at the gym or even before a match. Sometimes, I also use it as a customised alarm to wake up. It helps me bond with the South Asians on the tour because we are always exchanging our impressions about the songs. Travel has also helped mould my choice of music. Once, I was in a cab in Australia and the driver happened to be an African and had his iPod plugged in. He played a local African popstar’s track which instantly urged me to take down the song’s name so I could download it. I then introduced the same to everyone I know. That’s the beauty of music — it perks me up and soothes me and in this case, also brings people together.”

Cuisine - ‘Kangaroo steak’

“I am not a fussy eater and I am quite adventurous with the cuisines I try — from fried street food (bugs and scorpions) in Thailand to ‘Kangaroo steak’ in Australia to ‘monkey brain’ in Korea. As a professional tennis player on a strict fitness regime and diet, I rarely get to see and do justice to the grandeur of each country and city I play in. I must confess, however, that if there is any sort of privilege we do indulge in, it is food. Hailing from Coorg, I enjoy meat and a Brazilian steakhouse caters to that indulgence of mine. Even as western desserts appeal to my palate, Indian sweets win hands down, be it ‘gulab jamun’, ‘motichoor laddoos’ or homemade ‘payasam’. The icing on the cake is, however, a good home-cooked meal.”

Inspiration - Tennis

“I believe in working hard and training even harder. Tennis, as a sport by itself, inspires me so much so that it also motivated me to open my own tennis academy in Bengaluru and give back to the discipline which has made me who I am. I have been fortunate to have made a career out of what I love doing. Growing up, I found myself deriving inspiration from traits and aesthetics that I noticed in various individuals. That has helped in shaping my philosophy towards life, which motivates me every single day. I don’t believe in shortcuts and I am very traditional in my approach towards work.”

Travel - New York

“My favourite city is New York. The vibe and energy of the place is truly contagious and there’s an eclectic blend of people. I still remember boarding my first flight as a 12-year-old and being absolutely mesmerised by the magnificent aircraft and the entire experience. I understood very early in my profession that to enjoy the sport that I’ve taken up, I must enjoy the travel that comes with it and I embraced that aspect with arms wide open. It toughened me and groomed me to become independent, learn new things about various cultures, meet different people and indulge in a variety of cuisines. The most liberating thing about travel is how it educates one and rids them of their rigidity. That to me is true growth.”

Cinema - Russell Crowe

“My favourite movie would easily be the ‘Gladiator’. I often find myself mouthing the dialogues with actor Russell Crowe as I watch it. The sheer theatrics of cinema excite me, be it the comic timing or the special effects. I am easily pleased and crack up at the silliest jokes. Even the most cliched of  ‘leave your brains at home to watch this flick’ kind of movies make me happy. During my travel abroad, I try to make it a point to watch broadway shows which provide an authentic experience to the audience. My love for Bollywood music often translates into my love for Bollywood movies. ‘Sholay’ is for me an all-time classic.”

Book - ‘Shantaram’ by Gregory David Roberts

“My favourite book is ‘Shantaram’ by Gregory David Roberts. While it’s a large book to complete, the drama in it is so gripping that it was like a great companion to me on a long flight. Another favourite that I cannot miss mentioning is ‘Open’ by Andre Agassi — it brilliantly captures the reality of being a tennis player. His honesty about his love and sometimes hatred towards the sport makes it one of the most real books that I have ever read. The older I get, the more I find autobiographies and biographies to be a bigger inspiration than fiction. I recently read ‘I Am Zlatan Ibrahimovic’ by Zlatan Ibrahimovic. I found it very gripping and as I continued reading it, I couldn’t help but admire how fiercely honest he was in his writing.”