The search of the Indian tennis ace Rohan Bopanna for a new doubles partner for the Australian Open is over, as the former number three of the doubles world will play with Ben McLachlan from Japan in the first Grand Slam of the year.
ALSO READ: “I’m not going to lie. I didn’t miss the game that much ‘: Nick Kyrgios
Bopanna’s partner, Joao Sousa, was unable to travel to Australia on time after testing positive for COVID-19. The Indian player is currently one of 72 players locked in their hotel rooms for a 14-day quarantine in Melbourne after fellow travelers tested positive for COVID-19 on the flights that took them to Australia.
“I’m playing with Ben McLachlan from Japan at the Australian Open,” Bopanna told Reuters on Saturday in a message. McLachlan is a New Zealand born player representing Japan.
ALSO READ: From Open: Top ranked Ashleigh Barty was thrilled to play again
Rohan will team up with the Chinese Duan Yingying for the Mixed Double Challenge.
For next week’s ATP event in Melbourne, the Dane Frederik Nielsen will mate with Bopanna in the men’s double category.
Like most other players, Bopanna was denied training. He previously told Reuters that he relied on exercise bands and mats to keep fit.
(Posts from Reuters)