• Source:IANS
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Leander Paes, the former doubles world No. 1 and 18-time Grand Slam champion in doubles and mixed doubles, has been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the Player Category. Alongside him, Vijay Amritraj, a former player, broadcaster, and promoter, has been inducted in the Contributor Category. This makes them the first Asian men to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

Leander Paes, known for his remarkable achievements in doubles and mixed doubles, has won a total of eight doubles Grand Slam titles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. He is one of only three men in tennis history to achieve a career Grand Slam in both disciplines. Paes has also spent a significant amount of time ranked inside the ATP doubles top 10.

The induction ceremony is scheduled to take place on July 20, 2024, in Newport, Rhode Island. Paes, Amritraj, and British journalist/historian Richard Evans, who was also selected in the Contributor Category, will join an elite group of 264 inductees from 27 nations, with India becoming the 28th nation represented in the Hall of Fame.

"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. 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, Paes said.

Paes 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.

Amritraj was one of India's greatest players in the Open Era, anchoring India's Davis Cup squad to its only two Finals appearances in 1974 and 1987; in 1974, he played a key role in India's boycott of the Final against South Africa to demonstrate against Apartheid.

Post-retirement, he has become the face of tennis broadcasting in Asia and the Middle East.

 

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