Who Is Supriya Annaiah? Rohan Bopanna Pays Tribute To Wife In Retirement Speech

After an early exit from the Paris Olympics 2024, Rohan Bopanna announced his retirement from Indian tennis, ending a remarkable chapter in Indian sports history. The legendary athlete, paired with Sriram Balaji, was defeated by the French duo of Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Gael Monfils on July 30. A medal in tennis has been a long-awaited dream for Indians since the last one was won by Leander Paes' at the Atlanta Games in 1996.

Despite the disappointing defeat, Bopanna expressed fulfilment in competing at the Games and representing his country for the last time on the global stage. Noting the most memorable moments from his career, he recalled his victory at the 2010 Davis Cup tie against Brazil. "Of course, winning my first men's doubles at the Grand Slam and becoming World No 1... I am thankful to my wife (Supriya), who has made so many sacrifices in this journey."

Supriya Annaiah and Rohan Bopanna's Relationship

Supriya Annaiah and Rohan Bopanna entered got married in 2012, following a period of dating. Their union took place in a private ceremony, and their love story began through a chance meeting. Supriya and Rohan initially encountered each other at a restaurant, where Rohan, struck by her presence, requested his cousin to introduce him to Supriya. This marked the beginning of their journey together.

Supriya Annaiah is a qualified psychologist and a notable media personality. She serves as the director of the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Development Foundation, a registered entity with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). The couple is blessed with a daughter named Tridha Bopanna, adding to their familial joy. 

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A post shared by Rohan Bopanna (@rohanbopanna0403)

Hailing from Coorg, Karnataka, Rohan Bopanna has made a name for himself as a professional tennis player, representing India in prestigious international tournaments such as the Australia Open, French Open, US Open, and Wimbledon.

How Supriya Annaiah Influenced Bopanna's Recent Australian Open Win

Rohan Bopanna, India's tennis veteran, achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the oldest man to clinch a Grand Slam victory alongside his men's doubles partner Matthew Ebden at the Australian Open. Aged 43 years, Bopanna and Ebden secured their win by defeating Italy's Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in a thrilling match with a score of 7-6, 7-5. This triumph marked Bopanna's second Grand Slam success, following his mixed doubles victory at the 2017 French Open alongside Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski. Following the final at Rod Laver Arena, the 43-year-old attributed his success to his wife, Supriya Annaiah Bopanna.

Furthermore, a past statement by Bopanna about his wife has resurfaced on social media, where he previously highlighted Supriya's role in motivating him during challenging times, shedding light on her significant support in his career.

Rohan Bopanna reflected on his wife's wise words, emphasising the importance of turning limitations into opportunities to bring about significant changes. He said, "My wife said it beautifully one day, 'when you change limitations to opportunities, everything changes.' We are always told at 25 this has to happen, by 30 this has to happen, at 40 this will happen. It's a thing which is told to us constantly, whether it is sport or life, whether it is marriage, having kids, whatever it may be. But when you change that into opportunities, then the limitations go away."

Following the final match, Bopanna shared a personal revelation, revealing that he had contemplated retirement from tennis a few years earlier. During a period of struggle where he faced a string of losses, he expressed gratitude to his wife, Supriya, and daughter, Tridha, for their unwavering support and love. He said, "My beautiful wife, Supriya, & my daughter, Tridha.. thank you for all the support, all the love. I know a couple years ago I sent her a video message & said 'I'm gonna call it a day.' Because I wasn't winning matches at all. I went 5 months without winning a match. I thought that was gonna be the end of my journey. Perseverance inside me just kept me going. I really changed so many things & found a wonderful partner."

I agree 😉🥰... https://t.co/XVUjZWI1Rm

— Rohan Bopanna (@rohanbopanna) January 28, 2023

In the previous year, when spectators noticed Supriya Annaiah enthusiastically supporting Bopanna, discussions about her arose. Following the match, a fan shared a photo of his wife, hailing Supriya as the 'most beautiful woman' he had ever witnessed. Responding to this tweet, Rohan Bopanna concurred, stating, "I agree."