Leander Paes, Vijay Amritraj are 1st Asian men elected to Tennis Hall of Fame
Former professional Indian tennis stars Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj have been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, making them the first Asian men to receive the honor.
The Hall of Fame: The official induction ceremony for the International Tennis Hall of Fame is scheduled for July 20, 2024, in Newport, Rhode Island. Paes and Amritraj will join an elite group of 264 inductees hailing from 27 countries, with India set to become the 28th nation represented in the Hall of Fame.
While Chinese woman Li Na became the first Asian member of the Hall of Fame in 2019, Paes and Amritraj are set to make history as the first Asian men to be inducted. The voting process involves media, historians, Hall of Fame members, industry experts and fans, with candidates requiring 75% of the votes for selection.
About Paes: Paes, 50, has won eight Grand Slam titles in men’s doubles and 10 Grand Slams in mixed doubles throughout his career, including games at the French Open, U.S. Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open. He accumulated a grand total of 55 doubles championships on the men’s tour and held the top spot in the ATP doubles rankings for 37 weeks.
Last year, he made history as the first Asian man nominated as a player for the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Paes, who is credited as India’s first and only Olympic medalist in tennis, enters the Hall of Fame in the Player Category.
“It has been my life’s honor to play for my country for over three decades in a sport that has given and taught me everything,” Paes told the Associated Press. “This acknowledgment is indeed the ultimate accolade for every tennis player. Induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame belongs not just to me, but to our billion-plus Indians. Receiving this honor culminates a professional journey of a lifetime, standing on the shoulders of greats and sets the tone for other youngsters in Asia and around the world.”
About Amritraj: Amritraj, a 70-year-old former player, sports commentator and actor, was chosen in the Contributor Category, along with British journalist and historian Richard Evans. This category acknowledges trailblazers, visionary leaders and individuals or groups who have left a profound and lasting impact on the sport.
Amritraj, who was a professional player in the 1970s and 1980s, played a crucial role in India’s Davis Cup Finals appearances in 1974 and 1987. During the 1974 Finals, he played a key role in India’s boycott of the last round against South Africa as a protest against apartheid. Following his career, Amritraj transitioned into roles as a tennis broadcaster and administrator, dedicating his efforts to promoting humanitarian causes.
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