Tennis star Somdev Devvarman calls it a day
Tennis star Somdev Devvarman announced his retirement from professional tennis today to bring an end to a promising but injury-prone career. The two-time ATP Tour finalist had been India's highest-ranked player in the singles circuit and had won the Asian amd commonwealth Gold medals.
Taking everyone by surprise, one of the country’s finest singles players Devvarman broke the news of his retirement from professional Tennis via Twitter. He wrote, “Starting 2017 on a new note, retiring from pro tennis. Thanks to everyone for the love and support over the years. #newyearnewbeginnings”
Starting 2017 on a new note, retiring from pro tennis. Thanks to everyone for the love and support over the years. #newyearnewbeginnings
— Somdev Devvarman (@SomdevD) January 1, 2017
Devvarman had played his last professional match at an ITF Futures tournament in California, in March last year, where he lost in the first round of the qualifying event. Last year’s Chennai Open was his last appearance in the main draw of an ATP tournament, where he advanced to the Round of 32 before losing to Russia's Andrey Rublev in three sets.
Somdev was considered as one of India’s finest singles players and he also vindicated that hope surrounding him by reaching a career-best ranking of 62 in July 2011. But, sadly, he couldn’t deliver on that hope due to injury concerns. His career was on a downhill spiral and he ended the year 2016, with 902 ranks in world rankings.
In the 2009 Chennai Open, Devvarman took everyone by storm to reach his first ATP Tour final. He had beaten the likes of Carlos Moya of Spain and Ivo Karlovic of Croatia in the tournament before losing to Croatian star Marin Cilic in the final.
Somdev had been an important part of Indian Davis Cup team as well and played 14 rubbers in the tournament. He was one of the major forces behind India making it to the World Group in 2010.
In 2010 Commonwealth games in Delhi, Devvarman won the gold medal in men’s singles and then went on to become the first man since Japan's Toshiro Sakai to win singles and doubles gold medals at the Asian Games.