Bopanna finds doubles partner

INDIA’S Rohan Bopanna emerged from his 14-day quarantine in Melbourne last Saturday (30) with a spring in his step after his quest for a new doubles partner for next month’s Australian Open finally ended.

The former doubles world number three was one of 72 players confined to their hotel rooms in Melbourne after fellow passengers on the flights that brought them to Australia tested positive for Covid-19.

Compounding his problem, Bopanna was forced into searching for a new partner after Joao Sousa was unable to travel to

Australia on time after testing positive for coronavirus.

“Playing with Ben McLachlan from Japan in Australian open,” Bopanna said. McLachlan is a New Zealand-born player who represents Japan.

The Indian will team up with China’s Duan Yingying for the mixed doubles.

In this week’s ATP event at Melbourne Park, Bopanna will partner Denmark’s Frederik Nielsen in the men’s doubles.

Denied training like most other players, Bopanna earlier said he had been relying on exercise bands and mats to stay fit.