Tennis star Leander Paes announces 2020 as his farewell year

New Delhi : India's veteran tennis player Leander Paes on Wednesday announced that 2020 will be his farewell year as a professional before he hangs up his racket.

The 46-year-old, who started his professional career in 1991, has won 18 doubles and mixed doubles Grand Slam titles and a bronze medal in the singles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

In a career span of three decades, he has won a total of 54 doubles titles, partnering with more than 100 players. He is also the most successful doubles player in the history of the Davis Cup with 43 victories in 56 matches.

"I want to announce 2020 as my farewell year as a pro tennis player," Paes wrote on Twitter where he also thanked his family for their support.

"I am looking forward to the 2020 tennis calendar where I will be playing a few select tournaments, traveling with my team and celebrating with all my friends and fans around the world."

"It is all of you who have inspired me to become me and I want to take this year to say 'Thank you' to you."

At the peak of his career at the turn of the century, Paes was ranked No. 1 in the doubles circuit along with partner Mahesh Bhupathi, with whom he won three Grand Slam titles.

The duo won 26 doubles titles as a pairing between 1997 and 2011.