For any tennis player on tour, playing at a Grand Slam is a dream. And Rohan Bopanna is ecstatic, even if it just featuring in the qualifiers.

Bopanna has had a phenomenal season in Challengers — including five doubles and one singles title, apart from attaining a career-best singles (No 213) and doubles (No 92) ranking a couple of weeks ago. And playing in the US Open qualifiers, where he takes on French Julien Jeanpierre, would mean playing the only Slam he has not figured in. Bopanna shared his thoughts with the The Indian Express. Excerpts from the interview:

What would you attribute to the sudden leap in your performance?

Frankly it’s been extra hard work and success followed. Likewise, the choice of tournaments and taking doubles more seriously than in the past has helped overall.

What are your immediate priorities?

To maintain all the good work. It could get better and I hope to break into the top-200 in singles. That would make it easy to get into the qualifying rounds of Tour events.

With doubles getting you more success than singles, what is your focus on?

(Laughs) Never gave it a thought and that’s because I’m enjoying the game. As long as there’s continuity in success the focus should be on winning.

The US Open quailfiers complete a Slam cycle in your career. What next?

Making it to the main draw at any Grand Slam is my aim.

On your first-round French opponent?

Julien (Jeanpierre) has played more Slams than me and has been ranked No 133 three years back. Not an easy opponent and I have never played him. So, it will be interesting if not tough.

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