Sania Mirza, Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna welcomed 2015 at the latter’s estate in Somwarpet taluk

When the people of Kodagu were engrossed in their plans to welcome 2015, a group of tennis celebrities quietly slipped into the cosiness of the verdant coffee plantations and lush green surroundings in Kodagu to relax and celebrate New Year. Sports lovers of Kodagu would have made a beeline for Sania Mirza, Somdev Devvarman, and a couple of other ‘tennis friends’, along with Kodagu-born tennis star Rohan Bopanna, whose family played host to the guests at their idyllic coffee plantations in Madapur of Somwarpet taluk.

“Quick sabbatical is always world class,” Ms. Mirza tweeted, along with a collage of pictures after her visit.

All of them adjusted well to our style of food and culture, says Mallika Bopanna, Rohan’s mother. They are known to our family and they did not have any problem staying with us, she said.

Rohan’s father Machanda G. Bopanna said the players were totally at ease and relaxed in their estate. Being the coffee ripening season, they also learnt about various aspects related to coffee. They practised tennis for over two hours at the Madapur club and were at the North Coorg Club in Madikeri to welcome the New Year.

Ms. Mirza is said to have admired the locale of the district and promised to come back before leaving.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National / by K. Jeevan Chinnappa / Bengaluru – January 05th, 2015