* A wonderful tribute by Vijay’s son – (video)
By Marlon Dale Ferreira
Former doubles world number one Leander Paes and tennis broadcaster, actor, and player Vijay Amritraj became the first Asian men inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday. They were joined by British tennis journalist and author Richard Evans during the enshrinement ceremonies at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.
Paes, the first player from India to be inducted, reflected on his journey from playing football and hockey to following in his hockey-captain father’s footsteps as an Olympic medalist. “It’s my greatest honor to be on this stage with not only these legends of the game, people who have inspired me every single day of my life,” Paes said. “I would like to thank you so much for giving this Indian boy hope.”
Amritraj, 70, who played from 1970 until retiring in 1993, won 15 ATP singles titles, 399 matches, and reached a career-high ranking of 18th in the world. He helped India reach the Davis Cup finals in 1974 and 1987. “I am humbled and honored to join this incredible and exclusive group that have brought glory to our sport,” Amritraj said.
After his playing days, Amritraj contributed to humanitarian causes, supported ATP and WTA events in India, and acted in the James Bond and Star Trek movie series. Reflecting on his Hall of Fame election, Amritraj said, “This was an honor not just for me, for my family, for my parents, but for all of my fellow Indians and my country who live around the world.”
Paes, 51, an 18-time Grand Slam champion in doubles and mixed doubles, was selected in the player category after honing his skills in an Amritraj youth academy. He and Amritraj made India the 28th nation represented in the Hall of Fame.
“Playing for 1.4 billion people could either be pressure or it could be wind within your wings,” Paes said. “I’d like to thank every single one of my countrymen who supported me, who stood by through all the ups and downs. You all were the inspiration, the support, you were even the strength to guide me through when even I didn’t believe.”
Paes completed career Grand Slams in both men’s and mixed doubles, achieving one in men’s by winning the 2012 Australian Open and another in mixed by capturing the 2016 French Open. He also won the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bronze medal by defeating Brazil’s Fernando Meligeni 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
His only ATP singles title came in 1998 on Newport grass, the same venue where he was inducted. “As my father always said to me, if you believe in yourself, you work hard, you’ll be passionate not only to win prize money and trophies, but you do that to inspire the world,” Paes said.
“It has been my greatest honor to play for my countrymen in seven Olympics, to stand where the national anthem is playing in all those Davis Cups, and to prove that we Asians can win Grand Slams and also be number one in our field, be it tennis or anything.”
