India's Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj have made history by becoming the first Asian men to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Alongside this illustrious duo, acclaimed journalist and author Richard Evans has also been chosen for this prestigious recognition in tennis.
Paes, celebrated for his 18 Grand Slam victories in doubles and mixed doubles, has been honored in the player category. In contrast, Amritraj, hailing from India, and Richard Evans from the United Kingdom have been inducted under the contributor category. This segment, considered biennially, is dedicated to recognizing individuals or groups who have profoundly influenced the sport of tennis.
The Class of 2024 is set to be formally inducted at a ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island, on Saturday.
The addition of Paes, Amritraj, and Evans will expand the elite group of the Hall of Fame, which currently comprises 264 members from 27 countries. India is poised to be the 28th nation represented in this prestigious assembly.
Leander Paes expressed his gratitude and pride, saying, "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."
Paes' remarkable career spanned three decades, during which he reached the pinnacle of the doubles world rankings and secured 18 Grand Slam titles. His achievements include eight doubles Grand Slam titles and 10 in mixed doubles, placing him among the rare few to achieve a career Grand Slam in both categories.
Paes shares the record for the most mixed doubles major titles with fellow Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova. Additionally, his partnership with Martina Hingis in mixed doubles is one of only two teams in the Open Era to complete a career Grand Slam together.
Demonstrating his enduring excellence in the sport, Paes remained in the ATP doubles top 10 for 462 weeks, including 37 weeks as the world No. 1, and won 55 doubles titles.
Paes' international representation for India spanned 30 years, during which he set a Davis Cup record with 45 doubles victories. He also holds the distinction of competing in seven consecutive Olympic Games, a tennis record, and is India's sole Olympic medalist in tennis, having won bronze in singles at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Kim Clijsters, Honorary President of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and a member of the Class of 2017, congratulated the trio, stating, "These three legends have served as trailblazers in their impact on tennis, and in spreading the sport worldwide. We are excited to celebrate the Class of 2024 in the coming year." Paes was also chosen as the winner of the Hall of Fame's annual Fan Vote for induction earlier this year, reflecting his global popularity and impact on the sport.
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