World number four Rohan Bopanna has chosen N Sriram Balaji, who stood out with his performance at the French Open, as his Paris Olympics partner.
The All-India Tennis Association (AITA) is unlikely to protest to world number four Rohan Bopanna’s selection of N Sriram Balaji, who excelled with his performance at the French Open, as his partner for the Paris Olympics.
The 44-year-old Bopanna informed AITA of his decision in a letter that he had also marked TOPS in the mail; the national federation had verified this development. After putting Australia’s Matthew Ebden and India’s Bopanna to the test, Balaji and his Mexican partner MA Reyes-Varela Martinez lost the men’s doubles third round on Monday.
Balaji’s performance at the net and from the baseline, supported by a solid serve, was impressive enough to persuade Bopanna that the Coimbatore native is the best choice for him when he returns to Roland Garros next month to try one last time for an Olympic medal.
The third Indian to win a Grand Slam championship, Bopanna, was on the verge of taking home a medal in the Rio Games, but he and Sania Mirza were defeated by Radek Stepanek and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic in the mixed doubles bronze match.
Bopanna told PTI from Paris, “I have sent an email to AITA,” and that he would only comment on his decision if he received a response from the national organization.
Yuki Bhambri, India’s number two doubles player at number 52, was also in contention.
The 31-year-old Bhambri, paired with Frenchman Albano Olivetti, lost in the first round of the French Open, but he has been successful this season on clay, taking home the ATP 250 title in Munich and finishing second in another ATP 250 event in Lyon.
Anil Dhupar, the secretary general of AITA, stated he has no problem with Bopanna competing alongside 84-ranked Balaji in the Olympics in Paris when approached.
“Rohan has written to us that he wants to play with Balaji. Balaji is a good player. He played well in Pakistan also, rising to the occasion.
He also did well on clay at ongoing French Open. Balaji is a big server. If Rohan wants to play with him we have no objection to that,” said Dhupar.
“Let the ITF release the final ranking following the French Open. See whether Sumit Nagal succeeds as well.
The selection committee will meet, and Bopanna’s choice will be presented to the panel for a final decision.” Former Davis Cupper Nandan Bal, in charge of the selection panel, suggested they back Bopanna.
“In my personal opinion, we should give Rohan what he wants. At the end of the day, it’s his last shot at an Olympic medal and if he feels that it is better to play with Balaji, he would be sure of the choice,” Bal told PTI from Mumbai.
“Still we will discuss the combination whenever AITA convenes the meeting.” Former Davis Cupper Balram Singh, Mustafa Ghouse, and Sai Jailakshmi are the other members of the selection panel.
Although the AITA Secretary General “does not interfere in the proceedings and the decision is taken independently by the panel,” Bal stated that the Secretary General does provide feedback to the panel.
Entries will be based on the June 10 ATP/WTA rankings. By June 12th, the ITF must inform every Association about its qualifying athletes.
All NOCs will have to confirm their entries to the ITF by June 19. The ITF will reallocate the unused quota places on July 8.
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