Asian Games medalist Prajnesh Gunneswaran announces retirement from tennis

Asian Games medallist Prajnesh Gunneswaran announced his retirement from professional tennis on Friday, November 15. The 35-year-old from Chennai took to social media to announce his decision with an emotional note.

"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.

Mahesh Bhupati and Rohan Bopanna were among the ones from the Indian tennis fraternity who congratulated



Prajnesh on his career.

Prajnesh, who won a bronze medal in men's singles tennis at the Asian Games in 2018, reached a career-high of 75. He started playing tennis at the age of five in Chennai and trained in Pune and Bengaluru in his teenage days.

He won national titles in every age group from under-12 to under-18, earning him the reputation as Indian tennis’ rising star.

Despite his early success, Prajnesh's journey has had its ups and downs. He suffered an injury to his dominant left arm in 2009, which led to a period of uncertainty. However, he was offered scholarships by top US universities, including Harvard, and chose to attend the University of Tennessee due to its higher NCAA ranking. He dropped out of college in 2010 to pursue a professional tennis career.