Prajnesh Gunneswaran, an Asian Games medalist, announced his retirement from professional tennis on Friday, November 15th. Prajnesh, from Chennai announced his decision on social media with a heartfelt message.
“Hanging up my racquet. Thank you.”
“As I write this, my heart swells with gratitude, pride, and a touch of nostalgia. Today, I step off the competitive tennis court for the last time. For over three decades, this game has been my sanctuary, my greatest teacher, and my most faithful companion. From the first swing of my racquet to representing India on the grandest stages, the journey has been nothing short of extraordinary,” he wrote in his statement.
Tennis legends Mahesh Bhupati and Rohan Bopanna congratulated Prajnesh on his career.
Prajnesh, who achieved a bronze medal in men’s singles tennis at the 2018 Asian Games, reached his highest ranking of 75. He began playing tennis at five years old in Chennai and received training in Pune and Bengaluru during his teenage years.
He was crowned champion in all age categories from under-12 to under-18, establishing himself as the next big thing in Indian tennis.
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In the year 2019, Prajnesh accomplished various significant achievements. He earned spots in the main draws of all four Grand Slams, including his first appearance at the Australian Open.
He also made notable progress in the ATP circuit by making it to the BNP Paribas Open and the Miami Open, while achieving his highest singles ranking of No. 75. This placement allowed him to compete in the main draw at Wimbledon, but he was defeated by Milos Raonic in the first round.
