London: India’s top singles player Prajnesh Gunnesaran drew World number No.17 Milos Raonic of Canada as his first round opponent at the Wimbledon Championships, starting Monday. The draw was conducted Friday.
Left-handed Prajnesh, ranked 94 in the world, will make his maiden appearance on the hallowed grass courts at the Wimbledon. Grass however, is not Prajnesh’s preferred surface. He excels on hard courts. It will be his third straight appearance at the Grand Slam events this season, having made first round exits at both Australian Open and French Open.
Prajnesh is the only Indian in the singles main draw as Ramkumar Ramanathan and Ankita Raina have bowed out of the qualifiers after losing their respective second round matches.
In men’s doubles, Divij Sharan and his Brazilian partner Marcelo Demoliner will open their campaign against German 13th seeded pair of Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies.
Rohan Bopanna and Pablo Cuevas are up against New Zealand’s Marcus Daniell and Wesley Koolhof from the Netherlands while Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Purav Raja have been pitted against veteran Australian Lleyton Hewitt and his compatriot Jordan Thompson.
Veteran Leander Paes and Benoit Paire will clash with Kazakhstan pair of Alexander Bublik and Mikhail Kukushkin.
PTI