Paes, Amritraj inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame

IMAGE: Indian tennis stalwarts Vijay Amritraj and Leander Paes. Images: Bazuki Muhammad/Reuters and Leander Paes/X

India’s Former doubles world No. 1 Leander Paes and broadcaster and promoter Vijay Amritraj have change into the primary Asian males to be inducted into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame.

Apart from the duo, famend journalist and author Richard Evans have additionally been elected within the Final Honour in Tennis.

Paes, an 18-time Grand Slam champion in doubles and combined doubles, has been chosen within the participant class, whereas Amritraj and United Kingdom’s Evans are inductees within the contributor class, which is taken into account for election each two years.

The contributor class recognises true pioneers, visionary leaders, or people/teams who’ve made a transcendent influence on the game.

The Class of 2024 might be formally inducted into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame on Saturday in Newport, Rhode Island.

Paes, Amritraj and Evans will be part of an elite group of 264 inductees from 27 nations – with India set to change into the twenty eighth nation represented within the Corridor of Fame.

“It has been my life’s honour to play for my nation for over three many years in a sport that has given and taught me every thing. This acknowledgment is certainly the last word accolade for each tennis participant. Induction into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame belongs not simply to me, however to our billion-plus Indians,” Paes mentioned. ‘

“Receiving this honour culminates knowledgeable journey of a lifetime, standing on the shoulders of greats and units the tone for different kids in Asia and all over the world.”

Throughout his three-decade profession, Paes topped the world rankings in doubles and gained 18 Grand Slam titles. With eight doubles Grand Slam titles and 10 in combined doubles, he’s one in every of solely three males in tennis historical past to seize a profession Grand Slam in each disciplines.

Paes is tied together with his former associate, Corridor of Famer Martina Navratilova, for essentially the most combined doubles main titles in historical past. Moreover, he and Corridor of Famer Martina Hingis are one in every of solely two combined doubles groups within the Open Period to finish a profession Grand Slam collectively.

In a testomony to his longevity on the sport’s peak, Paes spent a complete of 462 weeks contained in the ATP doubles prime 10, together with 37 weeks at No. 1, and gained 55 doubles titles on tour.

Paes proudly represented India in worldwide competitors for 30 years, successful a Davis Cup document 45 doubles rubbers throughout his profession. He competed in a document seven consecutive Olympic Video games, essentially the most in tennis historical past, and is India’s solely Olympic medallist in tennis, capturing bronze in singles on the 1996 Atlanta Video games.

“I’m thrilled to congratulate Leander Paes, Vijay Amritraj, and Richard Evans on their election to the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame,” Kim Clijsters, Honorary President of ITHF and Class of 2017 Corridor of Famer mentioned.

“These three legends have served as trailblazers of their influence on tennis, and in spreading the game worldwide. We’re excited to rejoice the Class of 2024 within the coming yr.”

Earlier this yr, followers across the globe solid their ballots and elected Paes because the winner of the Corridor of Fame’s annual Fan Vote for induction.