It was a golden day for Indian tennis fans and the fraternity few days back as two iconic tennis players – Vijay Amritraj and Leander Paes were inducted in the elite gallery – International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Paes was inducted under the player category, Amritraj made it into the coveted club under the contributor category. It was record of sorts they they were the first Asian men in the club.
Vijay Amritraj, 70, played from 1970 until retiring in 1993, winning 15 ATP singles titles and 399 matches and being ranked as high as 18th in the world and helped India to the Davis Cup finals in 1974 and 1987.
And in his heydays on the tour Vijay made an impact with his all- court game . He had a game that rattled the big names . At towering 6’4 he was athletic and had the big serve too. These attributes made him a tough rival . In singles after playing his first Grand Prix event in 1970, Amritraj achieved his first success in singles in 1973 when he reached the quarterfinals at two Grand Slam events.
At Wimbledon, he lost in five sets to the eventual champion Jan Kodeš and later that summer at the US Open, lost to Ken Rosewall after having beaten Rod Laver two rounds earlier. Amritraj beat Björn Borg in the second round in the US Open in 1974, losing to Rosewall in quarterfinals.
In 1979, he lost in the second round of Wimbledon to defending champion Borg after being up two sets to one and leading 4–1 in the fourth set. Making a mark in singles in tennis makes Vijay an icon. He reached his career-high ranking in singles of world No. 16 in July 1980. A stupendous feat.
In 1981, he reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon before losing in five sets to Jimmy Connors. He beat John McEnroe in the first round of Cincinnati Masters in 1984. Overall, he had five career wins over Jimmy Connors in their eleven matches. These impressive wins over such iconic names in the game then prove what a player Vijay was .
While laying Davis Cup for India along with brother Anand formidable doubles pair and fashioned many a historic wins for the country. Amritraj was part of the India Davis Cup team that reached the finals in 1974 and 1987.
I had an opportunity to interview the legend Vijay Amritraj ( Tehelka 2015 November ) and it remains one of my best interviews and one to cherish forever. He was candid , all grace, friendly , living up to the The Gentleman tag and explained the Indian tennis scenario and the current era in fine detail with ease .
And When I mentioned the adage during his tennis days – ABC of tennis . A ( Amritraj, B ( Borg and C ( Connors). Vijay was touched by the comment . Vijay was happy to see likes of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi make their mark in the Men’s doubles and mixed doubles arena . But lamented the absence of Indian player in the toughest game of tennis – singles. And he told me :” I really hope that we can produce a world- class singles player in my lifetime”.
After his playing career Vijay has wowed all with his passionate and voice as a ace commentator in the Grand Slams over the years. Fans love his booming voice and the way he reads the game . Making live coverage all the more spectacular and one to look forward too.
After his induction in the Hall of Fame , Vijay had this to say , “A feeling came over me that I had never experienced,” Amritraj said of learning about his election to the Hall. “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.”
After Vijay had bid adieu to the game the aggressive boy from Kolkata Leander Paes took over the legacy of Indian tennis ahead. Along with Mahesh Bhupathi carved a niche for themselves on the tour with their performances in Men’s doubles and Mixed Doubles.
Paes, together with Mahesh Bhupathi, were the first pair in Open era history to reach the men’s doubles finals of all 4 Grand Slams in the same calendar year (1999).
Paes in his astonishing career had won won eight men’s doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. He won a bronze medal for India in men’s singles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games .
In game like tennis Leander surprised all by his longevity. He turned pro in 1991 and retired in 2021. A stunning 30 years. God of cricket Sachin Tendulkar’s 24 – year career gets accolades but Leander’s 30- year-old career is hardly mentioned or talked about. This is indeed ironic and sad.
Paes forte was doubles but in singles too he had managed to score impressive wins- In singles, his major wins came against the French duo of Arnaud Boetsch and Henri Leconte in 1993, Wayne Ferreira in 1994, and Goran Ivanišević in 1995.
Paes was modern fist and chest thumping tennis player who used to cover court with his athleticism When it comes to Davis Cup his amazing record in singles and doubles speaks for themselves. Simply stuff of legends!
And the legend Paes sent down message in his excellent speech on the occasion when he 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.”
Thank you Vijay Amritraj and Leander Adrian Paes for making us Indians all proud and giving us so many moments of happiness .
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