Indian tennis legends Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame

It was a big day at Newport, Rhode Island, as two Indian tennis legends, Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj, were inducted into the prestigious International Hall of Fame. They were joined by British journalist Richard Evans, who has worked tirelessly for the sport. This induction ceremony included a press conference hosted by Patrick McEnroe, Dan Faber, and Kim Clijsters.

Among the famous sports journalists, authors, and historians, Evans has been a leading figure in tennis. He was one of the founding members of the International Tennis Writers Association (ITWA) back in 2000 and stayed its president from 2001 to 2004.

Addressing the conference, Paes shared his inspiring journey from aspiring soccer player to tennis icon. He described the occasion when he relinquished a European football scholarship and was enrolled in the Britannia Amritraj Tennis Academy.

The Indian tennis legend also thanked Vijay Amritraj for the help and support provided to him. He said that now, looking back at his stellar career, he is even more dedicated to the progress of sports all over the world.

In the conference, Paes was quoted as saying:

"On the 12th of May, 1986, I gave up a European football scholarship and moved to Madras to join the Britannia Amritraj Tennis Academy."

"I walked up to Richard Evans at 11 and said I wanted to emulate my father in winning an Olympic medal."

Moreover, Amritraj, an ex-Indian tennis legend, pointed out the regional focus of the sport. He mentioned that there are very few tournaments of WTA and ATP outside of the Middle East and China and hardly any in the African continent. Amritraj emphasized the opinion that more tennis tournaments should be held in Asia and Africa.

He added:

"Outside the Middle East and China, there’s a lack of WTA and ATP tournaments. Africa lacks events as well."

"We had events in Asia and Africa, but now they are gone. India, a country of over a billion, has no ATP event."

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Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj have made waves during their stellar career

Leander Paes is regarded as one of the all-time great doubles players. The 51-year-old also holds the record for the most doubles wins in Davis Cup. He is ranked among the greatest doubles tennis players of all time, with eight men's doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slams. The ex-Indian tennis legend reached 34 finals in Grand Slam tournaments—both categories combined—the joint second-highest for any man.

Also, he won the very rare men's/mixed double at the 1999 Wimbledon Championships and, in association with Mahesh Bhupathi, became the first pair in the Open era to reach the finals in all four Grand Slams in men's doubles in the same calendar year in 1999.

Meanwhile, Vijay Amritraj is admired not only as a player but also as an interesting sports commentator and actor. Amritraj was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1983, the fourth highest civilian award given by the Government of India to its citizens. In 2022, the Indian tennis legend was feted in London by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation for lifetime contributions to the sport of tennis.

It is his, together with those of Paes', that even now act as an inspiration for the playing of tennis and continue to shape its future.