Leander Paes Inducted Into The Tennis Hall Of Fame Ahead Of Paris Olympics 2024

Leander Paes, the only Indian to win an Olympic medal in tennis, became the first Asian to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The announcement was made ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024. Leander Paes has won 18 Grand Slam titles. While Leander Paes was inducted into the player category, Vijay Amritraj entered the coveted club in the contributor category. The 51-year-old, who spent approximately 462 weeks in the top 10 of the ATP rankings, is widely considered one of the greatest doubles players of all time. Paes has won a total of 18 Grand Slam titles, eight in men's doubles and 10 in mixed doubles. He is one of only three men in the history of tennis to have achieved career Grand Slams in both men's and mixed doubles.

Paris Olympics 2024: Leander Paes inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame

1. Who is Leander Paes? - The greatest Indian tennis player of all time

Leander Paes, a junior US Open and Wimbledon champion, turned professional in 1991. In 1996, he made history by winning the singles bronze medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games, becoming the first Indian tennis player to achieve such a feat since wrestler KD Jadhav won bronze in 1952. He secured the medal by defeating Brazilian player Fernando Meligeni. Leander Paes achieved the defining moment of his illustrious career in singles and earned his place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame as a doubles player. Paes is considered the best Indian tennis player and has won the highest grand slam titles by an Indian.

A closer look at Leander Paes' International Tennis Hall Of Fame medal 🇮🇳😍

📸 @flyctory pic.twitter.com/R0MkbTShfg

— Indian Tennis Daily (ITD) (@IndTennisDaily) July 21, 2024

Passionate Tennis players can never forget the Indian Wells Masters qualifying tournament, where Paes took on a young Roger Federer, who went on to be on the list of highest grand slam titles. Leander Paes has won eight men's doubles Grand Slam titles: Wimbledon (1999), French Open (1999, 2001, and 2009), Australian Open (2012), and US Open (2006, 2009, and 2013). In mixed doubles, Leander Paes has won an impressive medal collection. He has won the Wimbledon title four times, the Australian Open three times, the US Open twice, and the French Open once. Paes was ranked as the No. 1 doubles tennis player in the world in 1999 and holds the record for the most doubles wins at the Davis Cup.

2. Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj make history with International Tennis Hall of Fame induction

Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj were inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame ahead of the much-awaited 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday evening in Newport. Family, friends, and fans packed into the famous horseshoe court at the venue for a memorable evening. Paes and Amritraj were the first Indian, as well as the first Asian men, to be inducted into the elite group, as a player and contributor, respectively. The pair have been pillars of Indian tennis and are proud to represent their country.

Talking about the latest Tennis news, Paes expressed that it was his most incredible honour to be on that stage with not only those legends of the game but also with people who had inspired him every single day of his life. He mentioned that it wasn't because he had won Grand Slams or shaped the world of the sport but because each of those people had shaped the world in which we live. Paes also added that he would like to express his gratitude for giving this Indian boy hope.

"Playing for 1.4 billion people could either be pressure, or it could be wind within your wings. I'd like to thank every single one of my countrymen who supported me, who stood by me through all the ups and downs, and we've been through a few. But you all were the inspiration. You all were the support. You were even the strength to guide me through when I didn't believe," Leander Paes said.

Leander Paes shares some inspiring words as he is inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame 🥹 🫶

Watch his full speech here 👉 https://t.co/L8mA5vLzib pic.twitter.com/clYpGulIiE

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 21, 2024

3. All you need to know about Tennis at the Paris Olympics 2024

After Wimbledon, it's typically time to shift focus to the North American hard-court summer, but not this year. The next major event on the schedule is the 2024 Olympic Games. The tennis competition at the Summer Games will feature eight gold medals across five events: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles. The tennis competition at the Paris Olympics 2024 will begin on Saturday, July 27, and conclude on Sunday, August 4.

The men's singles final is scheduled to take place on the last day, while the women's final will be held the day before. In the doubles, the men's gold medal game will be on Saturday, August 3, and the women's on Sunday. Bronze medal matches will also be held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Most of the top tennis players will be in action representing their countries, including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Andy Murray, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff. All games will take place at the famous Roland-Garros.