PARIS, JULY 25 : In a highly anticipated showdown at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Indian tennis players Rohan Bopanna, N Sriram Balaji, and Sumit Nagal are set to face formidable French opponents in their first-round matches. The draws, conducted on Thursday in the heart of Paris, have set the stage for some electrifying tennis action.

World No. 4 doubles maestro Rohan Bopanna, fresh off his Australian Open triumph, teams up with N Sriram Balaji, currently ranked 65th, to take on the French duo of Fabien Reboul and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

The French pair, with Roger-Vasselin ranked 11th in doubles and Reboul at 34th, pose a significant challenge. Both pairs are unseeded, ensuring an evenly matched and nail-biting contest.

Should the Indian duo triumph in this opener, a potential clash with the winners of Daniil Medvedev-Roman Safiullin (competing as neutral athletes) and second-seeded German pair Kevin Krawietz-Tim Putz looms large in the second round. This path promises a gauntlet of high-stakes matches that will test their mettle.

On the singles front, World No. 80 Sumit Nagal faces a tough test against the 68th-ranked Frenchman, Corentin Moutet. Victory here would catapult Nagal into a second-round duel with either Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, ranked 34th, or Australia’s Alex de Minaur, the world No. 6. This draw ensures that every match will be a battle of wits and endurance on the famed clay courts of Roland Garros.

For the 44-year-old Rohan Bopanna, Paris 2024 marks his third Olympic appearance. His journey began at London 2012, where he partnered with Mahesh Bhupathi to reach the second round. At Rio 2016, Bopanna and Sania Mirza narrowly missed a historic podium finish in mixed doubles, while his men’s doubles campaign with Leander Paes ended in the opening round. Bopanna’s absence from Tokyo 2020 adds an extra layer of determination as he eyes a medal in Paris.

Sumit Nagal, meanwhile, etched his name in history at Tokyo 2020, becoming the first Indian to win a singles match at the Olympics in over 25 years. Despite his second-round exit to then-world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, Nagal’s spirited performance has fueled his ambition for Paris.

Making his Olympic debut at 34, N Sriram Balaji, chosen by Bopanna as his partner, brings his experience and hunger for success to the grand stage. Their synergy and tactical acumen will be crucial as they navigate through the high-octane competition.

The men’s singles event at Paris 2024 will feature 64 elite players, while the men’s doubles competition will see 32 teams battling for glory. All matches will unfold on the iconic clay courts of Roland Garros from July 27 to August 4, promising a spectacle of skill, strategy, and sheer determination.

As the Indian contingent gears up, fans back home and around the world will be watching with bated breath, hoping for moments of magic and the fulfillment of Olympic dreams. The journey to Paris 2024 is poised to be an unforgettable chapter in Indian tennis history. (UNI)