Leander Paes, Vijay Amritraj first Asian men set to enter Tennis Hall of Fame
Paes, India’s only Olympic medallist in tennis, has been voted for in the player category while Amritraj has been nominated in the contributor category.
Tennis
Former Indian tennis players Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj are poised to make history as the first Asian men to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame next year.
Leander Paes turned pro in 1991 and represented India for three decades before calling it quits in 2021. He earned his nomination as the winner of the Hall of Fame’s annual fan vote for induction into the player category.
Vijay Amritraj will be inducted into the contributor category, which is considered for election every two years. The contributor category recognises individuals and groups who have made a significant impact on the sport, as per the International Tennis Hall of Fame website.
Paes won India’s only Olympic medal, a bronze, in tennis at the Atlanta 1996 Games and went on to become one of the most accomplished doubles players of all time. He featured in a record seven consecutive Olympic Games — the most in tennis history.
Leander Paes became the world's No. 1 doubles player in 1999 and has spent around 462 weeks inside the top 10 of the ATP rankings.
Paes has eight men’s doubles Grand Slam titles and 10 in mixed doubles. He is one of only three men in tennis history to capture a career Grand Slam in both doubles disciplines. He shares the record for the most mixed doubles Grand Slam titles in the Open Era with his former partner Martina Navratilova. Additionally, Paes boasts a record of 45 doubles wins in the Davis Cup.
Meanwhile, Vijay Amritraj has contributed to tennis in various capacities. He helped Indian tennis break new grounds in the 1970s and 80s and led India’s Davis Cup squad to its only two finals appearances in 1974 and 1987.
Amritraj is a prominent voice in tennis broadcasting in Asia and has also served as an administrator for the ATP and WTA events in Chennai.
In 2001, Amritraj became the first Indian to serve as United Nations Messenger of Peace. His Vijay Amritraj Foundation has provided education and basic needs for women and children since 2006.
Paes and Amritraj will be officially inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on July 20 next year in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. India are set to become the 28th nation represented in the Hall of Fame.