Leander Paes, Tennis Player
Tennis Player

Leander Paes

Born 17 June 1973 · West Bengal

Winning eight men's doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles including a career Grand Slam in both categories.

Leander Adrian Paes is an Indian former professional tennis player. He is regarded as one of the greatest doubles tennis players of all-time and holds the record for the most doubles wins in the Davis Cup. Paes won eight men's doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. He holds a career Grand Slam in men's doubles and mixed doubles making him one of only three men in the Open era to achieve this distinction and won the rare men's/mixed double at the 1999 Wimbledon Championships.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

Leander Paes is the only male tennis player to have won Grand Slam titles in men's doubles and mixed doubles spanning three different decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s).

The Story

1
🎾 In 1990, at age 17, Leander Paes stunned the tennis world by winning the Wimbledon Junior title, immediately ascending to the world No. 1 junior ranking and earning a spot on India's Davis Cup team.
2
🏅 At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Paes clinched a bronze medal in men's singles, marking the first time an Asian male tennis player won an Olympic medal, a feat still unmatched by any Indian.
3🤝 In 1999, Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi became the first duo in the Open era to reach the finals of all four Grand Slam men's doubles events in the same calendar year, reshaping India's presence in international tennis.
4🏆 Paes secured a rare double victory at the 1999 Wimbledon Championships, winning both the men's doubles and mixed doubles titles, an achievement held by only a handful of players in tennis history.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1996
Olympic Bronze Medal

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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Paes competed in seven consecutive Olympic Games from 1992 to 2016, a record unmatched by any other tennis player worldwide.

📸 Through the Years

📷

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Calcutta, India
Leander Adrian Paes was born to Vece Paes, a 1972 Olympic field hockey bronze medalist, and Jennifer Paes, a basketball captain, in Calcutta.
1973
⚡
Career
Wimbledon Junior Champion
At 17, Paes won the Wimbledon junior title and became the world No. 1 junior tennis player.
1990
🏅
Award
Olympic Bronze Medal in Singles
Paes won a bronze medal at the Atlanta Olympics, the first Asian male tennis player to win an Olympic tennis medal.
1996
⚡
Career
Grand Slam Men's and Mixed Doubles Wimbledon Titles
Won both men's doubles and mixed doubles at Wimbledon, a rare double triumph in the same tournament.
1999
⚡
Career
Reached All 4 Grand Slam Men's Doubles Finals
With Mahesh Bhupathi, became first Open era pair to reach men's doubles finals of all 4 majors in a calendar year.
1999
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
Received India's third highest civilian award for outstanding contributions to tennis.
2014
⚡
Career
Retired from Professional Tennis
Ended career after last Davis Cup tie in Croatia, holding record 1295 weeks in Top 100 doubles rankings.
2020
🏅
Award
Inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame
Became the first Asian man inducted, recognizing his 30-year career and record-setting achievements.
2024
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

His mixed doubles Wimbledon title in 2015 made him only the second man after Rod Laver to win Wimbledon titles in three different decades.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Paes won medals in every category—singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and team events—at the Asian Games, accumulating 5 gold and 3 bronze medals, making him the highest gold medalist among Indian athletes in Asian Games history.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

He spent 1,295 weeks ranked in the Top 100 of men’s doubles, an extraordinary longevity in professional tennis spanning over two decades.

“

"He would make me take my pulse every single morning as I woke up for my resting heart rate," Paes recalled about his father’s rigorous discipline, highlighting the scientific approach behind his athletic career.

— Leander Paes

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Life journey of the Indian tennis icon - Mr. Leander Paes
More from this archive
Life journey of the Indian tennis icon - Mr. Leander Paes
01
Life journey of the Indian tennis icon - Mr. Leander Paes
In Conversation With Leander Paes
02
In Conversation With Leander Paes
'Surround Yourself With Right People', Tennis Icon Leander Paes Discusses 30-year Career
03
'Surround Yourself With Right People', Tennis Icon Leander Paes Discusses 30-year Career
INTERVIEW | Leander Paes and the art of reinventing during lockdown
04
INTERVIEW | Leander Paes and the art of reinventing during lockdown
Leander Paes speaks about winning Junior Wimbledon medal
05
Leander Paes speaks about winning Junior Wimbledon medal
Exclusive : Interview with Leander Paes.
06
Exclusive : Interview with Leander Paes.
Exclusive interview with a Leander Paes about tennis Career
07
Exclusive interview with a Leander Paes about tennis Career
Leander Paes in an Exclusive Interview with One Play on Indian Rugby, Failures and Championship!
08
Leander Paes in an Exclusive Interview with One Play on Indian Rugby, Failures and Championship!
The RK Show Episode 6 Sneak Peek | Leander Paes
09
The RK Show Episode 6 Sneak Peek | Leander Paes
Mahesh Bhupathi & Leander Paes Speak Exclusively To Rajdeep Sardesai On 'Break Point' & More
10
Mahesh Bhupathi & Leander Paes Speak Exclusively To Rajdeep Sardesai On 'Break Point' & More

🌱 What changed because of them

Leander Paes transformed Indian tennis by elevating doubles and mixed doubles to global prominence, inspiring a generation of players like Mahesh Bhupathi and beyond. His record-setting Davis Cup performances and Olympic medal shifted national focus toward tennis as a competitive sport in India. Paes’ induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2024 spotlighted Asian tennis on the world stage, encouraging institutional support for the sport.

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