Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj make history by joining the Tennis Hall of Fame

NEW DELHI: Former world number one doubles player Leander Paes and tennis commentator, actor and player Vijay Amritraj made history on Saturday by becoming the first Asian men to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The ceremony took place in Newport, Rhode Island, where they were honored alongside Richard Evans, a British tennis journalist and author.

Paes and Amritraj are the first inductees from India to receive this prestigious recognition. During his speech, Paes shared memories of his childhood, playing football and hockey before finally deciding to play tennis. He followed in the footsteps of his father, a hockey captain, by winning an Olympic medal.

“It is a huge honor for me to stand on this stage, not only with these legends of the sport, people who have inspired me every day of my life. Not because you have only won Grand Slams, not because you have shaped our sport, but because each of these people has shaped the world we live in,” Paes said.

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“I want to thank you very much for giving hope to this Indian boy.”

Amritraj, a leading Indian tennis player, had a successful career from 1970 to 1993. During his tenure, he won 15 ATP singles titles, collected 399 match wins and achieved a career high of 18th in the world. Amritraj played a crucial role in leading India to the Davis Cup finals in 1974 and 1987, displaying his exceptional skills and leadership on the court.

“I feel humbled and honored to join this incredible and exclusive group that has brought so much glory to our sport,” said Amritraj.

After his retirement, Amritraj dedicated himself to various humanitarian causes, showing his dedication to making a positive impact off the tennis court. He also actively supported ATP and WTA events in India, contributing to the growth and promotion of the sport in his home country. Additionally, Amritraj ventured into the world of acting, appearing in the famous James Bond and Star Trek film franchises, showing his versatility and talent off the tennis court.

“There was a feeling that came over me that I had never felt before,” Amritraj said of hearing of his election to the Hall. “This was an honor, not just for me, for my family, for my parents, but for all my fellow Indians and my country who live all over the world.”

Paes, a former student of Amritraj’s youth academy, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the player category, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the sport. Paes, 51, collected an impressive 18 Grand Slam titles in doubles and mixed doubles during his illustrious career. His induction, along with that of Amritraj, made India the 28th nation to be represented in the prestigious Hall of Fame.

Paes and Amritraj made India the 28th country in the Hall of Fame.

“Playing in front of 1.4 billion people can be a pressure, but it can also be a pressure that has the wind in your sails,” Paes said.

“I would like to thank all my countrymen who supported me, who stood by me through all the ups and downs. We have been through a few, but you all were the inspiration, the support and even the strength to get me through when even I didn’t believe in it.”

Paes’ achievements include completing career Grand Slams in both men’s and mixed doubles. He achieved the men’s doubles Grand Slam by winning the 2012 Australian Open and completed the mixed doubles Grand Slam with his victory at the 2016 French Open.

Paes’ success extended to the Olympic stage, where he won a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, defeating Brazilian Fernando Meligeni in a thrilling match by a score of 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Notably, Paes’ only ATP singles title came in 1998 on the grass courts of Newport, the same venue where he was later inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“As my father always said to me, if you believe in yourself, work hard and not only win prize money and trophies, but also inspire the world,” Paes said.

“It is a great honour for me to play for my countrymen in seven Olympic Games, to stand where the national anthem plays in all those Davis Cups and to prove that we Asians can win Grand Slams and also be number one in our field, be it tennis or whatever.”