Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj made history after becoming the first Asian men to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Paes remains the only Indian till date to win an Olympic medal in tennis back in 1996, in Atlanta. Paes held the record for being India’s youngest Olympic medallist at the age of 23 years 1 month and 17 days before Vijender Singh broke the record in 2008 in Beijing.
Paes also won 19 Grand Slam titles from 1999 to 2015, combining men’s doubles and mixed doubles. After his induction into the Hall of Fame, Paes showed his delight and also showed his respect for Amritraj, who has also contributed heavily to Indian tennis.
“I think it’s really special to have two Indians inducted into the Hall of Fame. I have so much respect for Vijay and what he has given to me and the opportunity as a young boy in his academy, to his mom and dad, Mr. And Mrs. Amritraj, for supporting me and believing in me,” Paes told ATPTour.com.
“Also to see a fellow Indian getting inducted into a category that does so much to enhance the game of tennis [is special]. A big congratulations to Vijay’s mum, dad, wife, two sons, their wives and the whole family and especially to Vijay’s brothers Anand and Ashok,” he added.
As a young boy, Amritraj faced monumental challenges that almost stripped him of a future in sports. Battling severe lung issues, he spent significant time bedridden, casting doubt on any prospects of representing his country on an international stage. The future seemed bleak; his health concerns threatened to sideline any aspirations he may have had for a career in sports.
“You’re lying in a hospital bed, and your mother’s telling you you’re going to be the best tennis player India’s ever had, and you’re going to be playing around the world, and Indians all over the world are going to come and watch you play,” Amritraj said.
Vijay Amritraj’s inspiring career
At just 19 years old, Amritraj advanced to the quarter-finals of the prestigious Wimbledon Championships in 1973. In contrast, contemporary star Carlos Alcaraz, a two-time tournament champion, reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time at age 20, eventually winning the coveted SW19 trophy.
Amritraj’s career was characterized by his four-time appearances in the singles quarter-finals at Grand Slam tournaments. Beyond individual accolades, Amritraj played a pivotal role in leading the Indian national team to two Davis Cup finals.