Leander Paes announces 2020 will be his farewell year

India's legendary tennis player Leander Paes on Wednesday announced that 2020 is going to be his last year as a professional tennis player.The 46-year old, whose professional tennis career would be in its 30th year next year stated that he will play only a ‘few select tournaments' in 2020.

He announced on Twitter that he will be picking and choosing tournaments next year to meet his fans all around the world. He now prepares to hang his racket on an astonishingly long career filled with success.

In his Christmas message to fans, the decorated tennis player announced his farewell year on the tour. “I want to announce 2020 as my farewell year as a pro tennis player,” Paes wrote.

“Firstly, I want to thank my parents for their genetics, guidance, discipline, environment they created and unconditional love they have always shown me throughout my life. I would not be who I am without your unstinting support and belief in me,” he added before thanking his sisters and daughter as well.

Paes, who is the first and only tennis player to compete at seven Olympic games, had turned professional in 1991. He shot to national recognition by reaching the quarter finals of the 1992 Olympics, partnering Ramesh Krishnan in the men's doubles event.

Paes won a bronze medal for India in singles in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and in men's doubles, he has won French Open and US Open thrice in 1999, 2001 and 2009 and 2006, 2009 and 2013, respectively. He won the Australian Open doubles title in 2012 and the Wimbledon once in 1999.

Since the late 90s, Paes formed a formidable doubles duo with Mahesh Bhupathi, as the Indian pair of 'Lee-Hesh' went on to become the top ranked pair in the world.

The Indian romance with the Wimbledon trophies started in 1999, when Leander and Mahesh followed up on their maiden Grand Slam triumph in the French Open, by beating Paul Haarhuis of the Netherlands and Jared Palmer of the US, 6-7(10), 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) in the final.

But Leander shone even away from Bhupathi winning Slams with others like Radek Stepanek and mixed doubles with Martina Navratilova.

Paes has won eight doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. He holds a career Grand Slam in men's doubles and mixed doubles, and achieved the rare men's doubles/mixed doubles double at the 1999 Wimbledon tournament.

Paes is also the most successful doubles player in the history of Davis Cup with 44 wins, recently dropped out of top-100 for the first time in 19 years.

Leander, who made his Olympic debut in 1992, will look for one final flourish at Tokyo Olympics next year.