Somdev Devvarman announced his retirement from professional Tennis on 1st Jan, 2017 and gave his fans the shock of a lifetime as the 31 year old was one of the best Tennis Singles players in India, before his retirement.
Somdev suffered a shoulder injury in 2012 after which he made a comeback but remained out of action ever since and for no particular reason. Notice, the Tripura born tennis star achieved his highest career rankings of 62 in 2011 and he was expected to join Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi in the all time greatest Indian Tennis player list. However, his rankings continuously dropped after his comeback and Somdev Devvarman stood at 909th rank before hanging his boots.
Somdev announced his retirement through his official Twitter handle and here is what he said:
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
Somdev Devvarman was last seen playing against Sebastian Fanselow at USA F10 Futures, in 2014 and lost the game by 3-6, 2-6. However, there are some facts that made him the best budding talent in Tennis, making his retirement an abrupt and shocking ending that we never expected.
1. During his days at University of Virginia, Somdev Devvarman became the only collegiate player to feature in three consecutive finals at the National Collegiate Athletic Association, winning back-to-back finals during his junior and senior years at the University.
2. His 44–1 win-loss record in 2008 at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Tennis Championship remains unbeaten so far.
3. Somdev defeated world no. 42 and two time Chennai Open champion Carlos Moya of Spain and Ivo Karlovic of Croatia on his way to reaching the Finals of Chennai Open in 2009, entering his first ATP Tour finals which he lost to Marin Cilic of Croatia.
4. He has a win-loss record of 14-10 in Davis Cup was one of the major players who took India to the World Group in 2010.
5. In 2010, Somdev Devvarman won a Gold Medal in the men’s singles of XIXth Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
6. During the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, he achieved new heights by claiming both men’s singles and doubles Gold in 2010.
7. Somdev Devvarman was granted the Arjuna award, India’s second highest sporting honour, in 2011.
The above achievement once made him the Indian force to reckon with in Pro Tennis and according to his interview during the Chennai Open, he claims that Tennis was no fun anymore and his passion for the game eventually died after suffering several injuries.
It is also rumored that his name being forwarded as the new Davis Cup coach, led Somdev Devvarman to call it quits.
Whatever the case might be, we will always cherish his contribution in Tennis and his determination to give India another Tennis player to believe on.
Wishing him well for his future endeavors, Rohan Bopanna congratulated Somdev for all of his Achievements.
Congrats bro for everything. Wishing you the very best for the new beginings. All the best ☺☺🖒🖒 https://t.co/z03kz4H7vn
— Rohan Bopanna (@rohanbopanna) January 1, 2017
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2 Jan 2017
Rohan Jaitly