<p>Leander Paes, a multiple Grand Slam champion, became the first Asian man to be nominated for the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the player category on Tuesday.</p>
<p>One of the six candidates for the Class of 2024 that were announced was the 50-year-old Paes. In the Player Category, he will face off against Flavia Pennetta, Carlos Moya, Ana Ivanovic, Cara Black, and Daniel Nestor.<img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-205678″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-shahnawaz-hussain-a-bjp-leader-has-an-angioplasty-in-a-hospital-in-mumbai-download.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com shahnawaz hussain a bjp leader has an angioplasty in a hospital in mumbai download” width=”1323″ height=”908″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-shahnawaz-hussain-a-bjp-leader-has-an-angioplasty-in-a-hospital-in-mumbai-download.jpg 271w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-shahnawaz-hussain-a-bjp-leader-has-an-angioplasty-in-a-hospital-in-mumbai-download-220×150.jpg 220w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/theindiaprint.com-shahnawaz-hussain-a-bjp-leader-has-an-angioplasty-in-a-hospital-in-mumbai-download-150×103.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 1323px) 100vw, 1323px” title=”Leander Paes gets inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame as the first Asian man to do so 15″></p>
<p>The first Asian player to be nominated for the ITHF in 2019 was Li Na, a Chinese player who won the women’s singles championship at both the Australian Open and the French Open.</p>
<p>The fact that I am the first Asian guy to be nominated for the Player Category of the International Tennis Hall of Fame means the world to me, said Paes.</p>
<p>“I am honored that my dedication has been noticed after three decades of dedication to our sport and representing more than 1.3 billion Indians in the Olympics and Davis Cup.</p>
<p>I am incredibly appreciative to everyone who has supported me throughout my career, including my parents, siblings, coaches, Davis Cup captains, and everyone else, he said.</p>
<p>In addition to Paes, Vijay Amritraj, a former player for India, was nominated in the contribution category.</p>
<p>According to the ITHF’s website, “the ballot will also include two nominees in the Contributor Category, Vijay Amritraj and renowned journalist Richard Evans.”</p>
<p>In addition to being a former world No. 1 in doubles, Paes has won 18 Grand Slam championships in doubles and mixed doubles.</p>
<p>He won eight doubles Grand Slams, ten mixed doubles Grand Slams, and a career Slam in both sports during the course of a three-decade career.</p>
<p>“Tennis has given me so much, and I hope this nomination inspires every young kid around the world that with passion in your heart, hard work, and belief in yourself, you too can become a champion,” said Paes.</p>
<p>Paes amassed 55 doubles championships on the circuit and spent a total of 462 weeks ranking in the top 10 in ATP doubles, including 37 weeks at No. 1.</p>
<p>Paes has been an integral part of India’s Davis Cup team for 30 years and has won 43 doubles ties. He won bronze in tennis in 1996, becoming India’s lone Olympic medallist in the sport during the Atlanta Games.</p>
