Multiple Grand Slam winner Leander Paes emerged on Tuesday as the first Asian man to be nominated for the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the players category. The 50-year-old Paes was one of six nominees announced for the Class of 2024. He will compete in the Players category together with Cara Black, Ana Ivanovic, Carlos Moya, Daniel Nestor and Flavia Pennetta. Li Na, the Chinese player who won the women’s singles title at the Australian Open and French Open, became the first Asian player to be nominated for the ITHF in 2019. “It means a lot to me to be the first Asian man to be nominated for the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the player category,” Paes said.
“After three decades of passion for our sport and playing in front of over 1.3 billion Indians at the Olympic Games and Davis Cup, I am thrilled that my hard work has been recognized.
“I have so much gratitude for my parents, siblings, coaches, Davis Cup captains and everyone who played a role in my career,” he added.
Besides Paes, former India player Vijay Amritraj was also nominated in the contributors category.
“The voting will also include two nominees in the Contributors category, Vijay Amritraj and renowned journalist Richard Evans,” ITHF said on its website.
Paes is the winner of 18 Grand Slam titles in doubles and mixed doubles, and is also a former number 1 in doubles.
In a career spanning three decades, he captured eight Grand Slams in doubles, ten in mixed doubles and a career Slam in both disciplines.
“Tennis has given me so much, and I hope this nomination inspires every young child around the world that with passion in your heart, hard work and belief in yourself, you too can become a champion,” Paes said.
Paes spent a total of 462 weeks in the ATP doubles top 10, including 37 weeks at No. 1, and won 55 doubles titles on tour.
Paes has been a Davis Cup mainstay for India for 30 years and holds the competition’s record with 43 doubles wins. In 1996, he became India’s only Olympic medalist in tennis, earning bronze at the Atlanta Games.
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