Bopanna Matches McEnroe’s Legacy at 45 with Tokyo Final Appearance
Back in 2006, McEnroe claimed the San Jose title at 47, after a remarkable 12-year break.
Date: September 29, 2025
Kinoshita Group Japan Open
Bopanna and Japan’s Takeru Yuzuki poised for Tokyo doubles final this Tuesday.
Reported by ATP Staff
Rohan Bopanna has made history as the oldest man to secure a major title, the oldest ATP Masters 1000 champion, and the oldest first-time doubles world No. 1. Now, he stands as the second-oldest men’s doubles finalist in the Open Era. This accomplishment positions him just behind John McEnroe, who reached a doubles final at an older age.
Partnering with Japan’s Takeru Yuzuki, Bopanna reached his 64th tour-level final thanks to a nail-biting victory on Monday. The duo triumphed over top seeds Christian Harrison and Evan King by saving three match points, finishing with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 18-16, and now prepares for a finals clash against second seeds Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Hugo Nys.
At 45 years old, Bopanna is competing in his first tour-level title match since clinching victory at the Miami ATP Masters 1000 last March alongside Matthew Ebden.
Notably, McEnroe was 47 when he won the San Jose title in 2006 with Jonas Bjorkman. That year, McEnroe made a return from retirement to compete in two doubles tournaments, winning San Jose and reaching the quarter-finals in Stockholm, again with Bjorkman. His San Jose victory came after a lengthy 12-year hiatus from competitive play, having last competed in Rotterdam doubles in February 1994.
Having secured victories in his last two finals, Bopanna etched his name in history with titles at both the Australian Open and Miami in the previous year at age 43. His triumph at the Australian Open elevated him to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings for the first time.
McEnroe achieved his first doubles world No. 1 ranking in 1979, at just 20 years old. Throughout his career, the American celebrated 77 tour-level doubles titles and amassed 544 tour-level doubles wins. Bopanna now aims for his 27th title and 538th victory in the upcoming Tokyo final.
