Indian qualifier Prajnesh Gunneswaran knocked out World No. 69 Benoit Paire for one of the biggest wins of his career and progressed to the second round of the Indian Wells ATP Masters event here.

Playing his maiden singles main draw at this level, the Indian left-hander shocked the fancied French player 7-6 (5), 6-4 in one hour and 29 minutes. Before this, Prajnesh had taken out then World No. 23 Denis Shapovalov for the biggest win of his career at the Stuttgart ATP 250 event last year. The World No. 97 Indian next faces World No. 18 Nikoloz Basilashvili from Georgia.