New York: Former doubles world No. 1 Leander Paes and tennis broadcaster, actor and player Vijay Amritraj on Saturday became the first Asian men to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
British tennis journalist and author Richard Evans was the first inductee from India at a ceremony held at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.
Paes recounted his youth playing soccer and hockey before turning to tennis and eventually following his hockey-captain father as an Olympic medalist.
“It's my greatest honor to be on this stage with not only these giants of the game, but people who inspire me every day of my life – not just because you've shaped our game, but because you've won Grand Slams. Each of these people has made the world we live in Shaped,” Pace said.
“I want to thank you so much for giving hope to this Indian boy.”
Amritraj, 70, played from 1970 until his retirement in 1993, winning 15 ATP singles titles and 399 matches, ranking 18th in the world and helping India reach the Davis Cup finals in 1974 and 1987.
“I am humbled and honored to join this incredible and special group of people who have brought glory to our sport,” said Amritraj.
After his playing days, Amritraj has helped humanitarian causes, supported ATP and WTA events in India and acted in the James Bond and Star Trek movie series.
“I got a feeling that I had never experienced before,” Amritraj said of learning about his election in the hall. “It was an honor not only for me, for my family, for my parents, but for all my fellow Indians and my country living around the world.”
Like Amritraj, Evans was included in the Contributors category for his life impact on sports.
Paes, 51, was an 18-time Grand Slam champion in doubles and mixed doubles who was selected in the sportsmen category after honing his trade at the Amritraj Youth Academy.
Paes and Amritraj made India the 28th nation to be represented in the Hall of Fame.
“Playing for 1.4 billion people can either be pressure or it can be the wind in your wings,” Pace said.
“I want to thank each of my countrymen who supported me, who supported me through all the ups and downs, and we went through a little, but you are all the inspiration, the support, you too. The strength to guide me even when I don't believe.
Paes has won career Grand Slams in both men's and mixed doubles, completing one in men's singles at the 2012 Australian Open and another at the 2016 French Open in Egypt.
He defeated Brazil's Fernando Meligeni 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 to win the bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
His only ATP singles title came in 1998 at Newport Grass where he was included.
“Like my dad always told me, if you believe in yourself, you work hard, you're not only going to win prize money and trophies, but you're going to be passionate about inspiring the world,” Pace said.
“It is my greatest honor to play seven Olympics for my countrymen, to stand for the national anthem at all those Davis Cups, and to prove that we Asians can win Grand Slams and be No. 1 in our field. Be it tennis or whatever.”
