NEW DELHI: The year was 2000. Sania Mirza , then all of 14 years old, showed up in New Delhi to play the coveted DSCL Open - the national tournament. She met, and teamed up with, a tall and well-built Rohan Bopanna and clinched the mixed doubles title. 20-year-old Bopanna also made a run to the men's doubles final alongside Vishaal Uppal, where they lost to Saurav Panja and Nitin Kirtane. By then, Bopanna - laced with a massive serve - had already started to make waves in the ITF Junior circuit, played the 2000 Gold Flake Open and shifted focus to the Futures level. ALSO READ: Bopanna - 'Tennis gave me a purpose when I was lost'

That encounter was the foundation of a friendship that goes on until now. On the court, the circle was complete two years ago when the duo teamed up

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