Indian tennis legends Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj were inducted into the sport's Hall of Fame on Sunday.
“Paes was inducted in the Player category, while Amritraj and Evans were recognized in the Contributor category: honoring visionary leaders, pioneers or individuals who have had an extraordinary impact on the sport. “These three inductees bring the total to 267 legends from 28 countries represented in the Hall of Fame,” the International Tennis Hall of Fame said in a statement.
Her former mixed doubles partner Martina Navratilova paid tribute to Paes – who both won the mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon and the Australian Open in 2003.
“It’s really a privilege. And I’m very happy that it’s not just one person, but two Indians who have won this award. The first two Asians… to do so,” said the 59-time Grand Slam champion,” said Navratilova, a 59-time Grand Slam champion – 18 singles, 31 doubles and 10 mixed doubles.
“I think Leander plays tennis like most of us. He has a fast serve, a big forehand, a backhand slice that lands in unwanted places. Soft touch, leopard reflexes. He controls every ball. If he could, he would drop it. The passion this man has for this sport is indescribable. And if all else fails, he will smile on the court and every heart will melt. He is an artist on the court and an incredible athlete… Leander, it was truly an honour for me to play against you. I really enjoyed playing with you. You have made your family proud. You have made our sport proud and most importantly, you have made India proud,” Navratilova added.
Former world number one Indian doubles player Leander Paes hugs Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova as she is inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, U.S., July 20, 2024. (REUTERS/Mark Stockwell)
Admitting his emotions after being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Paes said: “It's my greatest honor to be on this stage with not only the legends of the game, [but] people who have inspired me every day of my life.
“Some of us are lucky enough to be born into a legacy. Today, sitting here at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, I would never have dreamed of playing cricket and street football barefoot in Kolkata,” he added.
Amritraj also received the honour, having reached the quarter-finals of the men's singles at Wimbledon and the US Open twice, besides guiding India to the Davis Cup final twice – in 1974 and 1987. At his peak, he was ranked world No. 18 in singles and No. 23 in doubles.
