Prajnesh Gunneswaran has long been one of India’s leading names in the world of tennis, having represented the country at the Asian Games, Davis Cup, and on the ATP Tour.
But these days, the Chennai-based player has found himself occasionally swapping his racquet for a paddle to explore pickleball.
For Gunneswaran, the entry into pickleball came with little fanfare. “I just like the sport, I play for fun, and there was a tournament in my neighbourhood, so I decided just to play,” he said in an exclusive chat with Pickleball Now. Unlike some athletes who have made a deliberate switch, his tryst with pickleball has been more about leisure than ambition. “I don’t really play much pickleball to say I’ve made too many adjustments. I play occasionally, maybe once every couple of weeks. There’s quite a bit of overlap between tennis and pickleball in terms of the basics, so it was easy enough for me to pick it up and enjoy myself,” he said.
Having spent years in professional tennis, Gunneswaran is familiar with utilising certain advantages. “Anybody who plays a racket sport has an advantage in any other racket sport. Since I’ve played another racket sport, I already have the minimum requirement to enjoy pickleball. That’s why I was able to have a good time right away, playing with friends and such.”
The timing of his entry into pickleball coincides with a landmark moment for the sport in India. His home city of Chennai is hosting the country’s first PWR 1000 event – Pickleball By The Bay, at the scenic VGP Golden Beach Resort. Gunneswaran admitted that the occasion was special and said, “It’s cool. It’s on ECR, which has the coastline, so it’s nice that they have an event near the water. I’m sure it’ll be a good event, fun and well-organised.
I’m looking forward to being part of it and having a good time.”
While the event has been billed as more than just a competition, with music, culture, and the beachside setting making it an experience, Gunneswaran sees the broader appeal of pickleball in its accessibility. “It’s nice to have a sport like this that so many people can play. Even older people are playing, and there seems to be momentum around the sport. People of different age groups and athletic abilities are involved, making it an inclusive activity. Even if you’re in your 50s and haven’t played a sport before, many are picking up pickleball. It’s a healthy pastime, and I think it’s a good thing this sport exists.”
For now, though, Gunneswaran is content with being a casual competitor. “I’ll play if it’s convenient, nearby, and usually, since pickleball events are on weekends, it works out for me. I can play a couple of events if I feel like it. That’s where I stand at the moment.”
But he doesn’t rule out pickleball’s potential as a career pathway for others. “Like any other sport, if there’s a federation and a proper pathway to the international circuit, then yes. Internationally, pickleball appears to have a well-established structure already. I don’t know the exact pathways locally, but there’s no reason why athletes shouldn’t try to excel in it if they want.”
“It’s about finding the right place to train, putting in the right number of hours, and working on your game. If pickleball eventually becomes an Olympic sport, that will obviously change the landscape even more,” he concluded.
About Indian Pickleball Association:
The Indian Pickleball Association is the official governing body for pickleball in India and is dedicated to promoting, developing, and organising the sport across the country. The association continues to inspire players of all ages and skill levels to embrace the game through events like the IPA Nationals. IPA is affiliated with the Asian Pickleball Association (APA) and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF).
About Pickleball World Ranking:
PWR is a national ranking system that spans all age groups, skill divisions, and formats -including singles, doubles, and mixed categories. It serves as the official National Sports Federation Ranking for India. With multiple sanctioned events taking place every week across the country, PWR defines the top Indian players at every level and forms the foundation for team selection at the school, district, state, and national stages.