In a surprising turn of events at the China Open ATP 500 tournament in Beijing, the second-seeded Indo-Croatian doubles team of Rohan Bopanna and Ivan Dodig faced an early exit, losing 5-7, 6-7 to the unseeded duo of Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina and Nicolas Jarry from Chile. The first-round match, which lasted one hour and 31 minutes, marked a disappointing start for the pair.
Bopanna’s regular partner, Matthew Ebden of Australia, opted out of the tournament, leading the Indian star to team up with Dodig once again. The two have previously partnered in 2017 and 2021, with their most notable achievement being a runner-up finish at the 2017 ATP Montreal Masters 1000 event.
Despite their combined experience and skill, Bopanna and Dodig struggled to find their rhythm against Cerundolo and Jarry, who capitalized on their opportunities and delivered a solid performance throughout the match.
At 44 years old, Bopanna has enjoyed a successful year, clinching two titles: one at the prestigious Australian Open and another at the Miami Open. However, he and Ebden experienced a similar fate in the recent US Open doubles, where they lost in the round of 16.
As the tournament progresses, fans and analysts will be keenly watching the performances of the other competitors, while Bopanna and Dodig will look to regroup and strategize for future tournaments.
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