Paes, Amritraj makes history as he becomes the first Asian man to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
Paes, Amritraj and Evans will join an elite group of 264 nominees from 27 countries – with India becoming the 28th country to be represented in the Hall of Fame.
New Delhi: Former doubles world No. 1 Leander Paes and host and promoter Vijay Amritraj of India have become the first Asian men to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
In addition to the duo, renowned journalist and writer Richard Evans has also been chosen as the Ultimate Honor in Tennis.
Paes, an 18-time Grand Slam champion in doubles and mixed doubles, has been selected in the players category, while Amritraj and Evans of Great Britain have been nominated in the contributors category, which is eligible for election every two years. The contributor category recognizes true pioneers, visionary leaders or individuals/groups who have made a transcendent impact on the sport.
The Class of 2024 will be officially inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island on Saturday.
Paes, Amritraj and Evans will join an elite group of 264 nominees from 27 countries – with India becoming the 28th country to be represented in the Hall of Fame.
“It has been an honor of my life to play for my country for more than thirty years in a sport that has given and taught me everything. This recognition is indeed the ultimate accolade for any tennis player. The inclusion in the International Tennis Hall of Fame is not just mine, but that of our billion-plus Indians,” Paes said.
“Receiving this honor marks the culmination of a professional journey of a lifetime, standing on the shoulders of greats and setting the tone for other young people in Asia and around the world.” During his career spanning three decades, Paes topped the world rankings in doubles and won 18 Grand Slam titles. With eight Grand Slam doubles titles and ten mixed doubles titles, he is one of only three men in tennis history to have achieved a Grand Slam career in both disciplines.
Paes is tied with his former partner, Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova, for the most major mixed doubles titles in history. Additionally, he and Hall of Famer Martina Hingis are one of only two mixed doubles teams in the Open Era to complete a Grand Slam career together.
In testament to his longevity at the sport’s peak, Paes spent a total of 462 weeks in the ATP doubles top 10, including 37 weeks at No. 1, and won 55 doubles titles on tour.
Paes proudly represented India in international competition for 30 years, winning a Davis Cup record 45 doubles matches during his career. He has competed in a record seven consecutive Olympic Games, the most in tennis history, and is India’s only Olympic medalist in tennis, capturing bronze in singles at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
“I am very pleased to congratulate Leander Paes, Vijay Amritraj and Richard Evans on their election to the International Tennis Hall of Fame,” said Kim Clijsters, ITHF Honorary President and Class of 2017 Hall of Famer.
“These three legends have served as pioneers in their impact on tennis and in spreading the sport worldwide. We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2024 in the coming year.” Earlier this year, fans around the world cast their votes and selected Paes as the winner of the annual Fan Vote for induction into the Hall of Fame.