Rohan Bopanna Sets World Record at 45, Reaches Japan Open Final with Takeru Yuzuki

Rohan Bopanna continues to defy age and expectations, adding another remarkable chapter to his storied career by reaching the final of the 2025 Japan Open men’s doubles event. Partnering with 27-year-old Japanese talent Takeru Yuzuki—18 years his junior—the 45-year-old Indian tennis veteran not only made a deep run at the ATP 500-level tournament in Tokyo but also set a historic world record.

Though the Indo-Japanese duo fell short in the final, losing 7-5, 7-5 to second seeds Hugo Nys of Monaco and Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France, Bopanna’s journey to the summit clash broke new ground. By advancing to the final, he became the oldest player ever to reach a final at an ATP 500 tournament in men’s doubles, surpassing the previous record held by fellow Indian legend Leander Paes.

Paes had reached the final of the 2018 Dubai Tennis Championships at 44 years and 9 months, alongside American James Cerretani. Bopanna, at 45 years and 6 months, now holds the new benchmark.

The veteran-Yuzuki pair was unseeded at the tournament and pulled off a surprise run to the final, including a notable victory over the American duo of Christian Harrison and Evan King in the semifinals. Their chemistry, despite the age gap, was evident and celebrated by fans throughout the week in Tokyo.

“It’s special,” Bopanna said after the match. “Records are great, but sharing the court with the next generation and still competing at this level—that’s the real joy.”

Bopanna is now only the second-oldest player to reach the final of an ATP-level men’s doubles event, trailing just behind the legendary John McEnroe. McEnroe, at the age of 47, won the San Jose title in 2006 with Jonas Bjorkman after coming out of retirement—a feat Bopanna is now being compared to.

Notably, both McEnroe and Bopanna are the only men’s doubles players to feature in an ATP final past the age of 45, showcasing their enduring class and fitness.

This latest achievement adds to an already phenomenal 2024–25 season for Bopanna. Earlier this year, he became the oldest player to win a men’s doubles Grand Slam (Australian Open 2024) and also captured the Miami Open ATP 1000 title, both alongside different partners. He also etched his name in the history books as the oldest first-time World No. 1 in doubles last year.

With age-defying performances and a growing legacy, Bopanna shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to inspire a new generation of tennis players around the world.