Top 5 Most Successful Indian Tennis Players Of All Time
A sport played by Millions, Tennis attracts worldwide spectatorship. Though, in a cricket-obsessed nation, there is still a long way to go for a sport like Tennis to challenge other attractions like Cricket, Football etc in India.
Despite all, there have been players who have overcome all the obstacles and have put Indian tennis on the world map.
Many find it disheartening that India has still not produced a Singles Grand Slam champion, but, over the years, the nation has produced quite a few talents, achieving some significant milestones and, thereby, inspiring youth to take up the sport.
Here’s a look at five such Indian Tennis Players of All Time:
#1. Mahesh Bhupati
Roger Federer acclaims him as one of the best players of all time, Rafael Nadal has often praised his strong backhand. One of the best doubles players of all time, India’s tennis player, Mahesh Bhupati isn’t an unknown name in Tennis.
First Indian to win a Grand Slam, Bhupati continuously made headlines in the 1990s and 2000s for his stupendous performances in doubles tournaments.
Mahesh Bhupati rose to prominence when he joined hands with Leander Paes for the doubles tournaments. In the year 1999, the duo won three doubles tournaments, including French Open and Wimbledon.
The duo took the world by storm after reaching all four grand slam finals in a single year- a feat which perhaps the whole world is proud of.
On 26th April 1999, the Mahesh Bhupati-Leander Peas duo became the number one doubles team in the world.
In all, Mahesh Bhupati holds 4 doubles, including two French Open titles and one Wimbledon and US Open each and eight mixed doubles titles, namely, Australian Open (2006 and 2009), French Open (1997 and 2012), Wimbledon ( 2002 and 2005) and US Open ( 1999 and 2005).
Mahesh Bhupati has played as many as 55 matches in the Davis Cup, winning 35 out of it, including 27 doubles title and 8 singles.
Owing to his stupendous performances in the 90s, Mahesh Bhupati was honoured with Padma Shri award in the year 2001.
#2. Leander Paes
One of the best Indian Tennis players to have ever played the game, Leander Paes holds a plethora of records to his name. Hailing from Calcutta, Leander Paes comes from a sports-loving family.
Leander Paes announced himself in the sport after winning Juinor US Open and Junior Wimbledon and thereby becoming professional in 1991.
From 1991 to 1996, he played doubles tournaments with different companions before partnering with Mahesh Bhupati in 1996 which proved out to be a winning combination.
Leander Paes has accumulated 8 Grand Slam doubles titles, including Australian Open (2012), French Open (1999, 2001, and 2009), Wimbledon (1999), and US Open (2006, 2009, and 2013).
India’s legendary Tennis Player also has 10 Grand Slam Mixed Doubles titles to his name, namely, Australian Open (2003, 2010, and 2015), French Open (2016), Wimbledon (1999, 2003, 2010, 2015) and US Open (2008 and 2015).
One of the greatest Indian Tennis player to have played in Davis Cup, Leander Paes holds an incredible record of 43 wins and 13 losses in Davis Cup.
Leander Paes received Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honour in 1996-97. Paes was also honoured with Arjuna Award in 1990; the Padma Shri award in 2001; and its 3rd Highest Civilian Award, the Padma Bhushan, in January 2014, for his outstanding contribution to tennis in India.
#3. Sania Mirza
The only female Indian Tennis player to have won a Grand Slam title, Sania Mirza singlehandedly put India’s women’s Tennis on the world map.
Sania Mirza enjoyed a phenomenal run in her singles career, registering notable wins against Svetlana Kuznetsova, Vera Zvonareva and Marion Bartoli, Martina Hingis, Dinara Safina, and Victoria Azarenka. Stellar performances in International circuit saw her reaching 27th position in the world ranking. However, a wrist injury forced her to give up on her singles career and focused only on doubles tournaments.
Sania Mirza enjoyed a great-run in doubles in the company of Martina Hingis. The duo enjoyed the maximum success in 2015 and 2016, winning three doubles slams and 2 WTA Finals titles.
Sania Mirza has won three doubles grand slam titles, including one Australian Open and a Wimbledon and US Open each.
Sania Mirza also has three mixed doubles grand slam wins, namely, Australian Open (2016), French Open (2012), and US Open (2014).
Sania Mirza has been honoured with a host of prestigious awards, including Arjuna Award (2004), Padma Shri (2006), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (2015), Padma Bhushan (2016).
Also Check: Top 10 Indian Tennis Players of all Time
#4. Ramanathan Krishnan
If Tennis is regarded as one of the most followed sports in our country, a whole lot of credit should be given to this man for his immense contribution to the sport.
Trained under the guidance of his father, T.K. Ramanathan, the former Tennis player wreaked havoc in junior championships. Krishnan became the first Asian player to win the Wimbledon Junior title in 1954.
The legendary player has even reached the quarter-finals in French open singles, and twice in the semi-finals of Wimbledon (1960 and 1961), reaching as high as number 6 position in the Lance Tingay’s amateur rankings.
Krishnan boasts of an impressive record in Davis Cup, compiling a 69–28 winning record (50–19 in singles and 19–9 in doubles).
Krishnan was honoured with Arjuna Award in 1961 and Padma Shri in 1962 and Padma Bhushan in 1967.
#5. Vijay Amritraj
Making his debut in 1970, Vijay Amritraj made heads turn when he reached the quarter-finals of two Grand Slams in US Open and Wimbledon.
Vijay Amritraj’s phenomenal performances made him reach the 16th position in the world rankings in 1980. He also helped his team reach the finals twice in 1974 and 1987 in the Davis Cup.
He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1983 for his outstanding contribution in the field of tennis.
Vijay Amritraj also tried his hands in acting for a brief period. He acted in the NBC TV series, The Last Precinct and the Yakov Smirnoff comedy What a Country and was a guest star on several television shows such as Hart to Hart.
