Divij Sharan is the highest-ranked Indian doubles player in ATP rankings

Divij Sharan on Monday overtook Rohan Bopanna to become India’s highest ranked Tennis doubles player in the latest ATP rankings. Sharan is ranked on 38, one place higher than the veteran Bopanna.

Playing with his partner Artem Sitak (37), Sharan reached the 2018 Wimbledon quarterfinals, his first taste of knockout rounds at any Grand Slam after exiting in the third round at the other three Slams.

Bopanna dropped nine places to be ranked at 39, while Leander Paes gained two ratings to be ranked at World No 60. Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan also jumped three places to achieve a career-best ranking of 72.

Tennis: Divij Sharan is now India’s No. 1 Doubles player (World no. 38).
Rohan Bopanna is one ranked below at 39th.
Well done @divijsharan . More power to you pic.twitter.com/n9nBfJ2yvw

— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) October 29, 2018

Sharan was earlier ranked two places higher in July – the same time he reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals – but this is the first time in his career that he has been ranked No.1 in India.

“It feels pretty amazing to have become the highest ranked player in India today. It’s not easy by any means with Mahesh, Leander, and Rohan having dominated the doubles circuit for the last couple of decades but they have carved the path and set the trend for the rest of us,” the 32-year-old was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Also Read: Roger Federer beats Marius Copil in Swiss Indoors final to win 99th career title

“We have had as many as seven players from India ranked in the top 100 this year which is impressive. Personally, it’s been another positive year for me where I was able to achieve my best ranking of 36 and win a gold medal for India at the Asian Games,” he added.

The left-handed Tennis player partnered Bopanna in getting India a doubles gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.

“I am really happy that all the work I have put in is paying off and the milestone of being the highest ranked player in the country is something I can cherish with my family and the people who have helped me with my career. I am still looking to work hard on my game and achieve even more next year,” said Sharan, hoping to strive harder.

Meanwhile, disappointments continued for India in the singles category with Yuki Bhambri dropping a place to be ranked 108, while Ramkumar Ramanathan gained four places to be ranked at 122. Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Sumit Nagal also jumped four and one positions respectively to be placed at 142 and 311.

In the women’s rankings (WTA Rankings) Ankita Raina remained India’s only player inside the top 200. She is ranked at 197, while Karman Kaur Thandi, who reached the finals at Nanning this week, remained on 215.