The majority of the tennis world’s eyes have been focused on the likes of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Mirra Andreeva, and Aryna Sabalenka, during the ongoing Miami Open. However, a big section of Indian tennis fans were glued to a pivotal first-round clash between the nation’s top two ranked doubles players – Rohan Bopanna (with partner Ivan Dodig) and Yuki Bhambri (with partner Nuno Borges): pivotal because the result had implications for the honor of being India’s No. 1 doubles player.
In the end, Bhambri/ Borges overcame Bopanna/ Dodig 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 to move into the second round. The win will see Bhambri become India’s No. 1 in doubles for the first time in his career. It also ended a five-plus year reign for Bopanna, who was the defending champion in Miami, as the country’s leading doubles player.
