Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj Inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame
Indian Tennis Legends Honored for Their Contributions
Indian tennis icons Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj were inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Sunday. Paes was recognized in the Player Category, while Amritraj was honored in the Contributor Category for their significant impact on the sport.
Martina Navratilova, Paes’ former mixed-doubles partner, paid tribute to him, recalling their victories at the 2003 Wimbledon and Australian Open mixed-doubles titles. She praised Paes for his unique playing style and passion for the sport, saying, “He was an artist on the court and an amazing athlete. Leander, you have done your family, our sport, and India proud.”
Expressing his emotions, Paes said, “It is my greatest honor to be on this stage with legends who have inspired me every single day of my life. Sitting here at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, I wouldn’t have ever dreamt it, playing street cricket and street football barefoot back in Calcutta.”
Vijay Amritraj, who also received the honor, reached the men’s singles quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the US Open twice each. He played a crucial role in guiding India to the Davis Cup finals in 1974 and 1987, reaching a peak ranking of No. 18 in singles and No. 23 in doubles.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame statement highlighted their significance: “Paes was inducted in the Player Category, while Amritraj and Evans were recognized as part of the Contributor Category, honoring visionary leaders and pioneers. The three inductees bring the total to 267 legends from 28 nations represented in the Hall of Fame.”