<p>It took Rohan Bopanna nearly seven years to make his second final in a Major, and he made sure it was worth the long wait.<br /><br />With his French Open mixed doubles triumph along with Gabriela Dabrowski, Bopanna has now become the fourth Indian to win a Grand Slam. He is also the fourth Indian after Leander Paes (10 slams in doubles and mixed), Mahesh Bhupathi (8) and Sania Mirza (3) to have won a Grand Slam in mixed doubles. Last year the French Open mixed doubles title was clinched by Leander and Martina Hingis.<br /><br />For Bopanna, a seasoned Davis Cupper for India, with a career best ranking of World No 3 in doubles, a Grand Slam title was long overdue.<br /><br />“It’s truly special. As an athlete, when you start playing tennis, you want to win a Grand Slam,” Bopanna, who was appearing in only his second Grand Slam final, told the French Open website. <br /><br />He had reached his first Grand Slam final at the 2010 US Open men’s doubles with Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq-Qureshi where the two lost to the Bryan twins — Bob and Mike.<br /><br />"You never know where the journey is going to take you — it feels amazing."<br /><br />Bopanna believed his chemistry with Dabrowski, who became the first Canadian woman to win the Grand Slam title, made the difference. The two forged a partnership in New York last September, and were appearing in their third Grand Slam together. Coming into the final here, they had beaten the likes of Sania Mirza/Ivan Dodig and third seeds Andrea Hlavackova/Edouard Roger-Vasselin.<br /><br />“I think that's what makes a difference, when you play with partners regularly at Slams, you get to understand each other. I think that helped us also today coming through those close matches. You end up trusting your partner. You know what the strengths of your partner.”<br /><br />Bopanna and Dabrowski, seeded seventh, were broken thrice in the second set. It was only then the two regrouped and turned the match on its head in a stunning fashion.<br /><br />“I think we relaxed a little more in the second set, and we started playing our game. I think we were trying to do too much as a team,” said Bopanna. “Just because it was a final, we were trying to go for too much maybe on the returns or even on the serve, for me.<br /><br />“After that first set we just stuck to what we do best. We started pushing each other, motivating each other. I think that's what made the difference. Once the nerves calmed down, we played better tennis.”<br /></p>
<p>It took Rohan Bopanna nearly seven years to make his second final in a Major, and he made sure it was worth the long wait.<br /><br />With his French Open mixed doubles triumph along with Gabriela Dabrowski, Bopanna has now become the fourth Indian to win a Grand Slam. He is also the fourth Indian after Leander Paes (10 slams in doubles and mixed), Mahesh Bhupathi (8) and Sania Mirza (3) to have won a Grand Slam in mixed doubles. Last year the French Open mixed doubles title was clinched by Leander and Martina Hingis.<br /><br />For Bopanna, a seasoned Davis Cupper for India, with a career best ranking of World No 3 in doubles, a Grand Slam title was long overdue.<br /><br />“It’s truly special. As an athlete, when you start playing tennis, you want to win a Grand Slam,” Bopanna, who was appearing in only his second Grand Slam final, told the French Open website. <br /><br />He had reached his first Grand Slam final at the 2010 US Open men’s doubles with Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq-Qureshi where the two lost to the Bryan twins — Bob and Mike.<br /><br />"You never know where the journey is going to take you — it feels amazing."<br /><br />Bopanna believed his chemistry with Dabrowski, who became the first Canadian woman to win the Grand Slam title, made the difference. The two forged a partnership in New York last September, and were appearing in their third Grand Slam together. Coming into the final here, they had beaten the likes of Sania Mirza/Ivan Dodig and third seeds Andrea Hlavackova/Edouard Roger-Vasselin.<br /><br />“I think that's what makes a difference, when you play with partners regularly at Slams, you get to understand each other. I think that helped us also today coming through those close matches. You end up trusting your partner. You know what the strengths of your partner.”<br /><br />Bopanna and Dabrowski, seeded seventh, were broken thrice in the second set. It was only then the two regrouped and turned the match on its head in a stunning fashion.<br /><br />“I think we relaxed a little more in the second set, and we started playing our game. I think we were trying to do too much as a team,” said Bopanna. “Just because it was a final, we were trying to go for too much maybe on the returns or even on the serve, for me.<br /><br />“After that first set we just stuck to what we do best. We started pushing each other, motivating each other. I think that's what made the difference. Once the nerves calmed down, we played better tennis.”<br /></p>
