US Tennis great Billie Jean King congratulated Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna for becoming the oldest world number one in men’s doubles history. King’s post on X, infused with admiration and encouragement, read: “Congratulations to @rohanbopanna, who has become the oldest world #1 in the history of men’s doubles. Stay forever young.”

Meanwhile, Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden stormed into their first Australian Open final in men’s doubles a day after becoming the oldest No.1 doubles player on Monday. Bopanna and Ebden defeated Zhang Zhizhen and Tomas Machac 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (10-7) in the semifinals under the Rod Laver Arena roof, advancing to their second Grand Slam final together.

Bopanna and Ebden will face the winner of the second semifinal between Germany’s Dominik Koepfer and Yannick Hanfmann and Italy’s Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli at the Rod Laver Arena. The Indian would be aiming for his first men’s doubles Grand Slam title.

Notably, Bopanna became the new world number one in men’s doubles after the Indo-Aussie pair defeated the Argentinian duo of Máximo González and Andrés Molteni 6-4, 7-6 (5), as the veteran Indian improved on his best-ever Australian Open run with a semifinal appearance. In 17 consecutive appearances at Melbourne Park, the 43-year-old has only made it to the third round six times, the most recent in 2018, before suffering five consecutive first-round exits.

BILLIE JEAN KING A TENNIS GREAT

King’s own journey in tennis is marked by her relentless fight for equal prize money and treatment for women in the sport. She was instrumental in establishing the Virginia Slims Tour, founding the Women’s Tennis Association and the Women’s Sports Foundation, and co-founding World TeamTennis. Her success on the court is equally impressive, with 39 Grand Slam titles to her name, and off the court, she has been recognized with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her advocacy work.

While King’s personal life saw her marry Larry King in 1965, she later found love with Ilana Kloss, her life partner, with whom she shares a bond of business, philanthropy, and legendary tennis status. As of today, Billie Jean King is 80 years old, having been born on November 22, 1943.