NEW DELHI: India's Rohan Bopanna may have lost the US Open men's doubles final with his partner Matthew Ebden against Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury, but his act of sportsmanship won lots of hearts at the Arthur Ashe stadium on Friday.
The moment came in the deciding third set with Bopanna and Ebden trailing the set 2-4 and the game 0-15. The chair umpire gave the point to the Indian-Australian pair but Bopanna made it sure to get it reversed saying that Ebden's forehand shot touched his right elbow and was not picked either by their opponents nor the line umpires.
The replays showed that the ball had indeed brushed against Bopanna's elbow. The crowd cheered Bopanna's incredible sportsmanship and it was also acknowledged by Rajeev Ram after the match.
Ram and Salisbury clinched a third successive US Open men's doubles crown beating Bopanna and Ebden 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Bopanna became the oldest Grand Slam doubles finalist in the Open Era at 43 years and 6 months. Bopanna-Ebden were playing their first Grand Slam final as a team.
