Former tennis participant Leander Paes in dialog at The Hindu workplace in Chennai on Might 28, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: B. Jothi Ramalingam
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 could be one of many crowning glories.
At a fireplace chat hosted by Sportstar at The Hindu’s Chennai headquarters, Paes, who was in dialog with Suresh Balakrishna, The Hindu’s Chief Income Officer, stated it was a “humbling second.”
“As we speak I’m so privileged, to take not simply me however India’s 1.4 billion individuals [to the Hall of Fame],” Paes stated. “I grew up in a middle-class household whose ardour was for sports activities. And it simply reveals that with exhausting work and perception, anyone can develop 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.
“I used to be very course of oriented,” stated Paes, who competed in a report seven Olympics. “Each Sunday after Church, I used to shine my father’s [Olympic] medal. My dad and mom had a whole lot of trophies however this one [the Olympic medal] attracted me. I needed 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.
“Singles outcomes helped my perception. [But I had to decide] will it encourage the youngsters 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 remaining bow in Paris.
“It does really feel just like the altering of the guard,” Paes stated. “[Carlos] Alcaraz, if he can keep wholesome, might be the following king and has the power 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 properly. All of us got here in when the solar was shining and we performed by means of an extended sundown.”
