"I feel like I'm ready to play with a guy like Rohan, with the experience and level that he has" - Bopanna's new partner Nicolas Barrientos

When Rohan Bopanna announced that he would be partnering Nicolas Barrientos for the first two tournaments of the 2025 season, there was a lot of curiosity around the 37-year-old relativley unknown Colombian.

Barrientos enjoyed his best season on the doubles tour in 2024, winning the ATP 500 Rio Open in February. He also broke into the world's top 50 doubles rankings for the first time in April.

In an exclusive with Sportskeeda, Barrientos, who will partner Bopanna at the ATP Adelaide International and then the Australian Open before the pair take a longer-term view of their partnership. The Colombian, a coffee-lover just like Bopanna, reflects on his 2024 season and his throughts on partnering with the Grand Slam-winning Indian.

Exclusive Interview with Nicolas Barrientos

Q: I wanted to start by asking about your 2024 season, which was your most successful season on the tour so far. You broke into the top 50 in doubles. Can you look back and reflect on the same and what were the improvements that helped you break into the top 50?

Nicolas Barrientos: Yes, this year has been my best year so far. I started working with Juan Sebastian Cabal, who is a former world No 1 in doubles, and he's from my city. We grew up together. So that was key for my good performance this year. And, I'm very happy because I won an ATP 500 title (the 2024 Rio Open with Brazil's Rafael Matos).

As you mentioned, I achieved my best ranking and I'm now very excited and motivated to start the next year.

Q: Do you have any specific goals in mind for the 2025 season?

Nicolas Barrientos: As you know, my ranking right now is top 50. But to break into the ATP Masters 1000 and to get to play all of them, you have to be ranked in the top 25 or top 30. My goal is to to get there and start playing those tournaments, which I am missing right now.

I played one this year in Madrid, but that's about it. So, I would like to play a full calendar of ATP Masters 1000 and the Grand Slams so that I can get to the top of the rankings.

Q: There is a lot of curiosity among Indian tennis fans about your partnership with Rohan Bopanna for the first couple of tournaments in 2025. Can you tell us how did that partnership come about? Have you guys played together oor practiced together in the past?

Nicolas Barrientos: I can't recall a practice that we did, but I'm sure we have. But we did play this year in Adelaide at the beginning of the year (2024). And and it was a very tough match.

I really like the way Rohan plays. He's a really good player. I mean, that's obvious. I, kind of, was asking him from from a few weeks ago. I was playing with Skander Mansouri but we split up at the end of the year to try different partners.

I feel like I'm ready to play with a guy like Rohan, you know, with the experience that he has and the level that he has and the ranking. As soon as I found out that he had no partner and had split with Matthew Ebden, I just said, "Hey man, listen, I am very interested in playing. If you are interested in anything, let me know, I would be really happy to to give us a shot. I think we can be good partners and a good team so let me know".

At the time, he was focused on the ATP Finals. So he replied after a while and said, after the ATP Finals, he will discuss with his coach and make a decision. And then, after the ATP Finals, they reached out to me. I was very happy to to hear from them and I said I'm ready to go!!

Nitto ATP Finals 2024 - Day 6 - Source: Getty

Q: Rohan Bopanna been on the tour for very many years now. What, according to you, makes him such a dangerous doubles player on the tour?

Nicolas Barrientos: I think he's very clutch. We know that he's a complete player. His ground game is very complete. His volleys are good. He has good reach at the net. And he's got his best weapon, which is the serve. I remember at the beginning of the match (in Adelaide), we were able to break his serve. And then after that first game where he didn't serve very well, he started serving unreal.

In the tiebreak, we couldn't return his serve. He was serving to the spots. Other than that, I feel like he's a guy that has been through everything. I think whoever we play and whomever we have in front, he's going to to go for it. And he's not going to be afraid of taking anyone, you know.

Q: For now, you and Bopanna have committed to play in Adelaide and the Australian Open. Do you want this to be a longer-term partnership for the full season?

Nicolas Barrientos: Honestly, I would love to. As of now, we are set for this with with these two tournaments. I think we we will play and then see how it goes. I'm sure if we have a really good result and we feel very good, we will consider the option. I will be more than happy but we'll go and see how everything plays out in the next few weeks.

Q: You spoke about breaking into the top 50 in the doubles rankings. A lot of players, especially on the double tour, talk about how difficult it is to earn a living in the sport. Can you talk about your experience in this regard? Is it getting easier now that you're kind of ranking has improved and you're getting into the bigger tournaments?

Nicolas Barrientos: Yes, definitely. I think getting into Grand Slams, the four Slams, guarantees you a certain amount of money. And then if you play the ATP 250s, 500s and Masters, and you have some good weeks here and there, then you definitely come up on top. It's definitely a big plus that I'm I have this ranking now and I can play these tournaments.

I feel that's also helping my game because it's less pressure in a way and less stress. So you can focus merely on your performance in the court.

Q: Any thoughts or suggestions that you have on how the ATP Tour could promote the doubles game and doubles players better?

Nicolas Barrientos: I think we always talk about that in the locker room. I think we need more marketing, more exposure. And of course, I feel like maybe there should be more doubles on the centre courts or main show courts. I think that would be very important. Exposure is everything. If we are more advertised and promoted, I think people will get to know us a little bit more.

And if there's a story behind the players that you watch playing, I think there's more interest interest from the fans.

Q: Have you ever been to India or played in India before?

Nicolas Barrientos: I have not actually. One year I was planning to go to Pune and this was right after COVID and a few days before traveling, I got COVID. So I couldn't travel. I was excited to go. But unfortunately, I couldn't make it.

Q: Last question, can you tell our readers three things about you that not many people know?

Nicolas Barrientos: Well, I played tennis at the University in the US in Division II. Most of the players that are at my level or better or around there played Divison I and it's very rare that a player from D2 makes it here.

Also, I'm a good salsa dancer and like a good Colombian, I love coffee!!

Q: You mentioned coffee. Have you exchanged coffee notes with Rohan? Because he's big into coffee as well.

Nicolas Barrientos: I heard that he's big into coffee and he loves it. So yes, I'm sure we will chat about that and maybe I can bring him some Colombian coffee.