2017 has been the best year of my career: Bopanna

Ace Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna, who became the fourth Indian to win a grand slam after clinching the mixed doubles title at the French Open, has asserted that this has been the best year of his career.

Bopanna, playing alongside Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski, clinched his maiden Grand Slam title at the Roland Garros on Thursday.

The seventh-seeded Indo-Canadian pair staged a comeback after losing the opening set and defeated Lena Groenefeld and Farah 6-2, 2-6, 12-10 in a summit clash that lasted for one hour and six minutes at Court Philippe Chatrier.

"I think one of the main reasons that this is the best year and I am playing best tennis is because of the fact that I started the year by playing Chennai open with Jeevan, then I played Dubai finals with Marcin Matkowski and won the clay court masters with Pablo Cuevas," said Bopanna.

He added, "The main reason I am saying good tennis is because I played with three different partners. I adapted to their styles and used their strengths and my strengths and combine together as a player which has made me a better player over the years and I think that is one of the reasons for me this year has been really special."

The 37-year-old further said that over the years, he has matured and now he knows more about his strengths and what he can bring into partnership.

"I think that is something which has changed this year. The way I am looking at any match, when I go out there and play, I am very confident," he insisted.

Bopanna, who made the men's doubles final of the 2010 US Open with Pakistan's Aisam ul-Haq Qureshi, and is the fourth Indian to make the Grand Slam club after Mahesh Bhupathi, Leander Paes and Sania Mirza.

His name has also been recommended by the All India Tennis Association (AITA) for the prestigious Arjuna award.