'It's changing lives': Rohan Bopanna, Andrea Vavassori keep it classy in defending doubles 

Rohan Bopanna has been a professional tennis player for more than two decades, making his mark through success on the doubles court that includes becoming world No. 1 in the discipline.

And he wants those inside and outside the sport to understand the impact goes far beyond the trophies lifted and prize money earned along the way.

The 44-year-old posted a heartfelt message on his X account Friday, outlining how his platform as a leading doubles player has resulted in being able to pay it forward to the generations behind him. Bopanna didn’t call out any specific detractors with his note, though conceivably was responding to comments made by Reilly Opelka.

"For everyone dismissing doubles tennis—understand this: playing doubles and earning an income from it has given me the power to give back in ways that truly matter," he began.

“It has helped underprivileged children discover the sport, provided education for over 30 girls, and built an academy that nurtures future champions. And let me tell you—those benefiting from these opportunities don't care whether the support comes from singles or doubles earnings. What matters is that it's changing lives."

Playing doubles and earning an income from it has given me the power to give back in ways that truly matter, Rohan Bopanna

Two days earlier, Opelka replied to an Instagram video of Taylor Fritz answering a question about the US Open’s revamped mixed doubles event uploaded by @christianscourt.

“They should 100% get rid of dubs. It’s for failed singles players, There’s no such thing as a ‘doubles specialist’... they don’t sell a single ticket,” he wrote. “They take up practice courts/physios/resources. They don’t turn a profit and they complain that they don’t make enough $$. That’s pretty greedy behavior if you ask me.”

Andrea Vavassori, currently No. 8 in the ATP doubles rankings and reigning US Open mixed doubles champion with Sara Errani, joined Bopanna in keeping it classy when sharing his take.

“Doubles, and of course mixed doubles, are fun, entertaining and super competitive disciplines that should be promoted in a total different way, enhancing the players, their skille sand their attitude,” one Instagram passage read. “In fact, this very high specialization nowadays makes doubles players more competitive than singles players.

“I am truly convinced—especially in the times we are living in—that nothing can generate interest if it’s not managed the right way.”

If we really want to change something, we need passion, we need to stay together and work together, because there’s a lot we can do to change this way of thinking and lift everything around doubles up. Andrea Vavassori

The aforementioned US Open changes will see mixed doubles move to ‘Fan Week’ at Flushing Meadows during qualifying starting this year, with eight entries made up of combined singles rankings and the other half comprised of wild card duos. That draw size is half of the previous field.

In a joint statement with his winning partner in New York, Vavassori and Sara Errani declared, “We see it as a profound injustice, that disrespect[s] an entire category of players.”

Alexandre Muller, winner of this year's Hong Kong singles title, supports his doubles colleagues. The Frenchman wrote “watch more doubles” on the courtside camera lens at the Rio Open after advancing to the quarterfinals Thursday.