The International Tennis Hall of Fame, based in Newport, Rhode Island, has announced its 2024 class, featuring Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj—the first Asian men to receive this honor. Paes, a former World No. 1 and 18-time Grand Slam champion in doubles and mixed doubles, was inducted as a Player. Meanwhile, Amritraj, known for his work as a promoter and broadcaster, and Richard Evans, a distinguished British tennis historian, were both inducted under the Contributor category.
Former World No.1 doubles player Leander Paes and ex-player, broadcaster, and promoter Vijay Amritraj are the first Asian men inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The Hall, which has been in operation since 1955 and is situated in Newport, Rhode Island, announced its Class of 2024 on Wednesday. Paes, an 18-time Grand Slam doubles and mixed doubles champion, has been picked in the Player Category, while Amritraj has been chosen in the Contributor Category. Richard Evans, a British journalist and historian, was also chosen In the Contributor Category.
The Contributor category is designed to recognize the trailblazers and leaders who have left a lasting mark on tennis. The official induction event will be held in Newport on July 20, 2024. By joining this group, Paes, Amritraj, and Evans become part of an elite assembly of 264 inductees. India now marks the 28th country to have a representative in the Hall, following Li Na, the first Asian member, who was inducted in 2019 after winning two Major singles titles.
Paes' legacy is staggering: he is one of only three people to ever complete a career Grand Slam in both doubles (8 titles) and mixed doubles (10 titles). His professional record includes 55 doubles trophies and a remarkable 462 weeks in the ATP top 10, including 37 weeks as the world's top-ranked doubles player. Reflecting on the achievement, Paes shared that playing for India for over thirty years has been the honor of his life, calling this induction the highest possible achievement for any athlete. He emotionally dedicated the honor not just to himself, but to the more than a billion people of India.
Paes noted that this recognition is the crowning achievement of his career, built upon the legacy of the greats who came before him, and hopes it inspires young athletes across Asia and globally. His Olympic record is equally impressive; he competed in seven straight Olympics—a tennis record—and remains the only Indian tennis player to win an Olympic medal, having secured bronze in singles at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Vijay Amritraj was a cornerstone of Indian tennis during the Open Era, leading the national Davis Cup team to its only two finals in 1974 and 1987. He showed great courage in 1974 by helping lead India's boycott of the final against South Africa to stand against apartheid. Since retiring from professional play, he has become the most prominent voice in tennis broadcasting across the Middle East and Asia.