'I stuck around because there are always people trying to take your spot': Rohan Bopanna reflects on staying relevant

As Wimbledon 2026 approaches, former Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna reflected on the perseverance that eventually led to his maiden Grand Slam title, while India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson opened up about winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 and the lessons he learnt from setbacks.Speaking to JioStar ahead of the Championships, which gets underway on July 29, Bopanna said remaining patient and continuing to improve despite long waits for success had been central to his longevity in professional tennis.

Bopanna, who won his first men's doubles Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2024 after more than a decade of trying, said the journey taught him the importance of persistence."When it all came quickly, I thought, 'Oh, next year everything else will change.'

Little did I know that it would take another 13 years for it to happen. But I'm glad I stuck around. I stayed with the grind and did all the right things. I think that's what you need to do to remain relevant in the sport. That's where I felt you and I are very similar, we've stayed relevant and competitive because there are always a lot of people trying to take your spot, chasing what you've achieved.

I think that experience helped as well," Bopanna spoke alongside Samson.

The 46-year-old also recalled advice from his childhood idol and two-time Wimbledon champion Stefan Edberg, saying it stayed with him throughout his career.

"I remember once, back in the day, meeting my role model, Stefan Edberg, who remains my role model even today. He said, 'When you're playing the sport, never look at what your peers are doing. Do what works best for you. Don't do something just because someone else is doing it.

Look at your strengths, work on them, and build on them.' Coming from someone I watched growing up, especially at Wimbledon, it was advice that I carried throughout my journey," he said.Samson, meanwhile, described India's ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 triumph as a lifelong dream fulfilled, admitting the emotions of lifting the trophy were still fresh."It was definitely an emotional moment. Representing the country, I think all we want is to go out there, play in the World Cup and, more importantly, win a World Cup for the country.

It was something that I had dreamed of for many years, and when it finally came true, it was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience. So, somewhere in my heart, I'm still going through it. But it was very special," Samson said.The Kerala batter also spoke candidly about dealing with failures in T20 cricket, saying accepting his emotions rather than suppressing them had helped him navigate difficult phases in his career."I started accepting exactly how I was feeling. A lot of people would say that you need to be positive, you need to be strong. But internally, I was thinking, 'No, I don't feel strong.' Once I expressed how I was feeling, I started feeling better. I just want to be as real as possible. If I'm feeling bad, I allow myself to feel bad. Then you start working inwards. So, I am very grateful for how things have turned out eventually," he said.Samson also revealed that one of the most significant pieces of advice he received came from Sachin Tendulkar during a difficult period in his career."He said, 'Sanju, I think I have been a part of this game for a very long time. But one thing I can assure you is that if you dedicate yourself 100 per cent to the game, and if you respect and love the game to the fullest, the game will definitely give back to you at some point.' After the T20 World Cup, I messaged him and said, 'Sir, I think that has come through,'" Samson said.Wimbledon 2026 will be held from June 29 to July 12, with the tournament being broadcast live on JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network.