Prajnesh Gunneswaran Pickleball Journey: Prajnesh Gunneswaran, a former Indian professional tennis player who retired in 2024, is exploring pickleball at the Rise Up Championship – Pickleball By The Bay 2025 in Chennai. Gunneswaran has been playing the sport casually for six months, enjoying its similarities to tennis and the chance to stay active.
Discovering Pickleball
“I’ve been playing pickleball for about six months now. I play it for fun,” Gunneswaran said. “It’s obviously a racket sport that I could pick up pretty easily because of tennis. There’s a lot of overlap between the two sports, with similar surfaces, paddles, and balls; they’re all very similar. So it was fun for me. I play with a bunch of my friends, you know, now and then.”
He explained the similarities and differences: “I mean, it’s a racket sport. It’s obviously played on the same surface. It’s a smaller court. But that’s pretty much it, I guess. I mean, it still has a forehand and a backhand and volleys, so that’s the similarity, I guess. However, as the level increases, there are more and more differences. You’ll probably have to ask someone who plays pickleball enough to give you a better answer than that.”
Casual Approach and Skills
Gunneswaran admitted he plays casually: “No, I play once in a while just for fun.” When told his level seemed impressive, he smiled: “Thank you. Thank you. I guess my tennis helps me.”
Impressed by the Championship Setup
He praised the tournament’s facilities in Chennai. “This tournament’s been very, very nice. I arrived here first this morning at 7:30, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the setup with the bubble and the air conditioning. And it has an amazing view with the sea right behind us. So it’s a pretty spectacular view. And I think the tournament’s been done really well. All the matches are going on time, which is obviously pretty difficult to do. Usually, I know how it is when it comes to scheduling. I think the organisers have done a great job in making the participants happy. So I’m looking forward to the rest of the weekend.”
Pickleball’s Growth and Community Impact
On the sport’s rise in India, Gunneswaran said: “Yeah, it’s been pretty tremendous. Many pickleball courts are popping up everywhere, and a lot of people are playing it. Many people I know who’ve never had an athletic background or played any other sport are now playing pickleball. It shows that there’s a way for people who haven’t played any other sports to participate in pickleball. That’s a significant draw for pickleball. And I think that’s very good because the more people who play a sport and are active, the better it is for them. So I think it’s a very healthy part of the ecosystem that’s building.”
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Reflection on Tennis Career and Advice
Reflecting on his tennis journey, Gunneswaran said: “Yeah, I mean, looking back, I’m obviously pleased with everything that I’ve been able to achieve. And, you know, all the goals that I set and I chased. And it’s been a lifetime of chasing my dream in tennis. And I’m pleased with where I got. And I’m just enjoying the next chapter.”
He also offered advice to young players: “Well, I would say start early, enjoy the game and work hard.”
News in Brief: Prajnesh Gunneswaran Pickleball Journey
Former tennis player Prajnesh Gunneswaran, retired in 2024, has taken up pickleball casually and is participating in the Rise Up Championship – Pickleball By The Bay 2025 in Chennai. Prajnesh praised the tournament setup, highlighted the sport’s growth in India, and encouraged young players to start early and enjoy the game.
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