Indian tennis: After impressive start to 2019, Prajnesh Gunneswaran breaks into ATP top 100

Reaping rewards of his consistent performances in the past 12 months, Prajnesh Gunneswaran on Monday broke into men’s singles top-100 for the first time in his career with a jump of six places that took him to 97.

Prajnesh is only third Indian men’s singles player to break into the top-100 barrier in the past decade after Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri, reported PTI.

The gritty left-hander, who had a brilliant 2018 season, reached the semifinals of the ATP Chennai Challenger last week to ensure his entry into the coveted bracket.

If Prajnesh can maintain his rank inside top-100, it will secure him entry into Grand Slam singles main draws. At 29, Pranjesh made his first ever entry into the main draw of a major when he qualified for Australian Open in January.

In recent times, only Yuki managed to make the top-100 grade. The immensely talented Yuki has been unfortunate with injuries that halted his progress. Every time he entered the top-100, it was followed by a long injury break.

He is now placed 156 behind Ramkumar Ramanathan, who rose to 128 with a jump of five places. At number four, is Saketh Myneni (255, +5) and following him is another talent from the South Sasi Kumar Mukund, who jumped 22 places to reach career-best 271.

Mukund too had made the semifinals of the Chennai Challenger.

In the doubles, Rohan Bopanna stayed put at 37 and was followed by his partner Divij Sharan (39, +1), Leander Paes (75, +7), Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (77, +2) and Purav Raja (100, +3).

In the WTA charts, Ankita Raina continues to be country’s top singles player at number 164 after climbing a spot in the ladder and was followed by Karman Kaur Thandi, who dropped a place to 212.