Leander Paes’ storied profession is dotted with many historic highs. However his induction into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame class of 2024 within the participant class might be one of many crowning glories.
At a hearth chat hosted by Sportstar at The Hindu’s Chennai headquarters, Paes, who was in dialog with Suresh Balakrishna, The Hindu’s Chief Income Officer, mentioned it was a “humbling second.”
“At the moment I’m so privileged, to take not simply me however India’s 1.4 billion individuals [to the Hall of Fame],” Paes mentioned. “I grew up in a middle-class household whose ardour was for sports activities. And it simply exhibits that with onerous work and perception, anyone can change into a champion.”
Paes might have received 18 Majors (eight in doubles and 10 in combined doubles), however his inventory was constructed on the singles bronze at Atlanta 1996, India’s first particular person Olympic medal since wrestler Khashaba Jadhav’s bronze at 1952 Helsinki.
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“I used to be very process-oriented,” mentioned Paes, who competed in a document seven Olympics. “Each Sunday after Church, I used to shine my father’s [Olympic] medal. My dad and mom had tons of of trophies however this one [the Olympic medal] attracted me. I wished one in every of my very own.
“I used to be good sufficient to know that I couldn’t do it alone. My two sisters introduced me up; there have been some superb coaches, and all these doubles and combined doubles companions. They need to all be within the Corridor of Fame.”
Within the first decade of his profession, Paes was adept at singles too. He received his lone ATP Tour title, on grass in 1998 at Newport, which by the way hosts the Corridor of Fame festivities.
Former Indian Tennis Participant Leander Paes in dialog at The Hindu workplace in Chennai on Tuesday.
| Photograph Credit score:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B/ The Hindu
Former Indian Tennis Participant Leander Paes in dialog at The Hindu workplace in Chennai on Tuesday.
| Photograph Credit score:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B/ The Hindu
“Singles outcomes helped my perception. [But I had to decide] will it encourage the children if I’m in singles top-10 or if I’m a Grand Slam champion. Earlier than us [himself and Mahesh Bhupathi] no person had received a Main. That’s [my] legacy.
“To be No.1 and see the [Indian] flag flying excessive is fairly cool. Twenty Slams [including two in juniors] and World No.1 meant greater than being within the singles top-10.”
Paes additionally paid tribute to 22-time Main and 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal, who misplaced within the first spherical at Roland-Garros on Monday, in what more and more looks like his ultimate bow in Paris.
“It does really feel just like the altering of the guard,” Paes mentioned. “[Carlos] Alcaraz, if he can keep wholesome, might be the subsequent king and has the flexibility to win 20 plus Slams. I performed with Nadal in doubles at Paris Bercy [Masters]. To see a 14-time champion be unseeded and lose within the first spherical, I perceive that [feeling] all too effectively. All of us got here in when the solar was shining and we performed by means of a protracted sundown.”