Leander Paes

Infobox Tennis player
playername = Leander Paes


nickname =
country = India
residence = Calcutta and
Orlando, Florida
datebirth = birth date and age|1973|06|17
placebirth = Goa
height = height|m=1.77
weight = convert|77|kg|lb st|abbr=on|lk=on
turnedpro = 1991
retired =
plays = Right-handed; one-handed backhand
careerprizemoney = US$4,872,869
singlesrecord = 99–98
singlestitles = 1
highestsinglesranking = No. 73 (August 24, 1998)
AustralianOpenresult = 2rd (1997, 2000)
FrenchOpenresult = 2rd (1997)
Wimbledonresult = 2rd (2001)
USOpenresult = 3rd (1997)
doublesrecord = 495–252
doublestitles = 39
highestdoublesranking = No. 1 (June 21, 1999)
grandslamsdoublesresults = 3
AustralianOpenDoublesresult = F (1999, 2006)
FrenchOpenDoublesresult = W (1999, 2001)
WimbledonDoublesresult = W (1999)
USOpenDoublesresult = W (2006)
OthertournamentsDoubles = Yes
MastersCupDoublesresult = F (1997, 1999, 2000, 2005)
OlympicsDoublesresult = Fourth place (OlympicEvent|Tennis|2004 Summer|title=2004|subcategory=Men's Doubles)
updated = October 6, 2008

Leander Adrian Paes (born June 17, 1973) is an Indian professional tennis player who currently features in the doubles events in the ATP tour and the Davis Cup tournament. He is one of the most successful professional Indian tennis players and also the former captain of the Indian tennis team. He has won various doubles and mixed doubles events at the Tennis Grand Slam events. He is also the recipient of India's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 1996–1997 and the Padmashri award in 2001 for his contribution to Tennis in India.

Apart from his eight Grand Slam victories at doubles and mixed doubles events, he is famous for his several memorable Davis Cup performances playing for India and also for winning a bronze medal for India in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Early life

Leander was born in Goa, India to Vece Paes and Jennifer Paes and raised in Calcutta, India. He was educated at La Martiniere for Boys, Calcutta. His father and mother were both former Olympians. His father Vece Paes was a hockey player who represented India in the 1972 Munich Olympic games, in the hockey team that won the bronze medal. His mother captained the Indian basketball team in the 1980 Asian basketball championship. Paes enrolled with the Britannia Amritraj Tennis Academy in Madras in 1985 where he was coached by Dave'O'Meara. The academy played a key role in his early development. Leander shot into international fame when he won the 1990 Wimbledon Junior title and rose to No.1 in the junior world-rankings.Paes is the great grandson of the Bengali poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt. Previously having dated bollywood actress Mahima Chaudhary, he is now married to Rhea Pillai and has a daughter Aiyana Paes.

Career

Early career (1991–1997)

Paes showed promise early in his career by winning titles at the Junior US Open and the Junior Wimbledon. He turned professional in 1991. [Cite web | url = http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/?playernumber=P269 | title = Leander Paes - Player Profile | author = ATP | date = 2006-05-28 | accessdate = 2007-05-28] He rose to the number 1 in the world in the junior rankings. [Cite web | url = http://living.oneindia.in/celebrity/leander-paes.html | title = Leander Paes - India's Tennis Pride | author = Debasmita Chanda | date = | accessdate = 2007-05-28 ] In 1992, he reached the quarter finals of the doubles event in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics with Ramesh Krishnan. [cite web|url=http://www.itftennis.com/olympics/drawsheets/printabledrawsheet.asp?event=1010011400|title= Olympics Barcelona - Men's Doubles - Main Draw|accessdate=2007-12-31]

He went one better at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where he beat Fernando Meligeni to win the Bronze medal, thus becoming the first Indian since KD Jadhav (Bronze in 1952 Helsinki Olympics) to win an individual medal for more than 4 decades. [Cite web | url = http://sify.com/sports/olympics/fullstory.php?id=13538760 | title = KD Jadhav - Man of Bronze | author = Gulu Ezekiel | date= | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] Paes cited the match as one of his greatest performances on the court, in part because his wrist was severely injured. [Cite web | url = http://www.tennis.com/features/general/features.aspx?id=101754 | title = Fond Memories: Players REcall Greatest Moments III | author = Mark Malinowski | date = | accessdate = 2007-08-31 ] He was awarded the highest sporting honour by the Government of India, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 1996. [Cite web | url = http://yas.nic.in/yasroot/awards/rg_khelratna.htm | title = LIST OF RAJIV GANDHI KHEL RATNA AWARD WINNERS | author = Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India | date = | accessdate = 2007-05-28 ] His first successful year in the ATP circuit came in 1993 when he partnered Sebastien Lareau to reach the US Open doubles semi-final. After having a moderate season in 1994 he reached the Quarter final of the 1995 Australian Open doubles with Kevin Ullyett. From 1996 he started partnering with fellow Indian Mahesh Bhupathi, which later would prove to be a winning combination. This year was not a very successful one, especially in the grand slams with a round of 32 finish at Wimbledon being the best. 1997 proved a much better year for the team of Paes and Bhupathi with the semi-finals of the US Open their best grand slam result. Paes climbed the doubles ranking from 89 at the beginning of the year to 14 at the end of the year. [Cite web | url = http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/rankhistory.asp?playernumber=P269&selyear=1997 | title = Rankings History | author = ATP Tennis | date = | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ]

Rise in doubles (1998–2002)

The doubles team of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi grew stronger in 1998 reaching the Semi-Finals of 3 grand slams, the Australian Open, the French Open and the US Open. In the same year Paes had two of his biggest singles results in the ATP tour. The first one came by winning an ATP singles title at Newport and the second was beating Pete Sampras at the New Haven ATP tournament. [Cite web| url = http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980714/19550184.html | title = Paes picks up first ATP singles crown | author = REUTERS | date = 1998-07-13| accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] [Cite web | url = http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/vault/draws.asp?TournamentID=315&TournamentYear=1998 | title = Official Tournament Draw | author = ATP Tennis | date = | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] [Cite web| url = http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/vault/draws.asp?TournamentID=420&TournamentYear=1998 | title = Officiela Tournament Draw, New Haven | author = ATP Tennis | date = | accessdate = 2007-05-28 ] [Cite web | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/1998/98aug22/sports.htm#1 | title = Paes sends Sampras packing | author = ATP Tennis | date = 1998-08-21 | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] In the year 1999, the duo reached the finals of all the 4 grand slams winning the Wimbledon and the French Open, thus becoming the first Indian pair to win a doubles event at a Grand slam event. Paes also teamed up with Lisa Raymond to win the Mixed doubles event at Wimbledon. The year also marked his ascent to the No.1 ranking in the doubles. [Cite web | url = http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/rankhistory.asp?playernumber=P269&selyear=1999 | title = Rankings History | author = ATP Tennis | date = | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] The following year Paes partnered with Sebastien Lareau for the Australian Open and Jan Siemerink for the French losing in the first round on both occasions. Paes teamed up again with Mahesh Bhupathi for the US Open but lost in the first round again. The duo had a disappointing second round exit to Australian duo of Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde at the Sydney Olympics, despite high hopes. [Cite web | url = http://www.gamesinfo.com.au/results/Masters/te/TEresults.pdf | title = Tennis results | author = www.gamesinfo.com.au | date = | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] Paes was given the honour of carrying the Indian Flag at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics. [Cite web | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040807/sports.htm#1 | title = Anju to carry flag at Athens | author = PTI. | date = 2006-08-06 | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] In spite of a winning the French Open in 2001, the team of Bhupathi and Paes had 1st round exits in the other 3 grand slams. Paes was awarded the Padmashri by the Government of India in 2001. [Cite web | url = http://mha.nic.in/Padma/padma2001-E.htm | title = Civilian Awards announced on January 26, 2001 | author = Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date = 2001-01-26 | accessdate = 2007-05-28 ] The duo of Paes and Bhupathi won the gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan. [Cite web | url = http://news.xinhuanet.com/asiangames/2002-10/11/content_593463.htm | title = Uzbekistan, India, Chinese Taipei split Asiad tennis titles | author = 14th Asian Games BUSAN. | date = 2002-10-11 | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] In 2002 Leander paired up with Michael Hill for a number of tournaments with moderate success.

2003–present

Between 2003 and present, Paes has increasingly focused on his doubles and mixed doubles game. Leander won the Mixed doubles events at the Australian Open and Wimbledon with Martina Navaratilova, both in 2003. In the 2004 Athens Olympic games he paired up with Mahesh Bhupathi, failing again at the semi finals stage. His next Grand Slam success was in the U.S. Open doubles event in 2006. Paes lead the Indian tennis team at the Doha Asian Games in 2006 and won two golds in the Men's doubles (partnering Mahesh Bhupathi) and Mixed doubles(partnering Sania Mirza). [Cite web | url = http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/Sports/TE/IGTEMatchStatisticsD.aspx-rscid=TEM02-TETNA0-NA01-X.html | title = Men's Doubles Final MD31 | author = 15th Asian Games Doha. | date = 2006-12-13 | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] [Cite web | url = http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/Sports/TE/IGTEMatchStatisticsD.aspx-rscid=TEX02-TETNA0-NA01-X.html | title = Mixed Doubles Final XD21 | author = 15th Asian Games Doha. | date = 2006-12-13 | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] Paes has maintained his doubles ranking in the top 20 in the world between 2005 and 2007. [Cite web | url = http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/rankhistory.asp?playernumber=P269&selyear=2005 | title = Rankings History | author = ATP Tennis | date = | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] [Cite web | url = http://www.atptennis.com/3/en/players/playerprofiles/rankhistory.asp?playernumber=P269 | title = Rankings History | author = ATP Tennis | date = | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] With wins in the Rotterdam and ATP Masters Series in Indian Wells, Paes has taken his doubles tally to 38, as of May 2007. [Cite web | url = http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/vault/drawsdoubles.asp?TournamentID=407&TournamentYear=2007 | title = Rotterdam | author = ATP Tennis | date = | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] [Cite web | url = http://in.rediff.com/sports/2007/mar/19paes.htm | title = Rotterdam | author = PTI | date = 2007-03-19 | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] [Cite web | url = http://www.atptennis.com/3/en/players/playerprofiles/?playernumber=P269 | title = Player Profile | author = ATP | date = | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi took part in the men's doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. They were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka [Cite web | url =http://www.ibnlive.com/news/paesbhupathi-knocked-out-of-beijing-olympics/71292-29.html | title = Paes Bhupathi out of Olympics 2008| author = IBNLIVE| date = 2008-08-15 | accessdate = 2008-08-15 ] who went on to win the men's doubles gold medal [Cite web | url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/2008/aug/16swiss.htm | title = Federer leads Swiss to doubles gold ] .

Davis Cup career

Leander Paes started his Davis Cup career in 1990 at a young age of 16, when he partnered Zeeshan Ali in the doubles to beat the Japanese team in a gruelling 5 set encounter. He is considered as one of the top Davis cup players for his country with a record of 81–30 overall as of May 2007. [Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4929784.stm | title = Leander Paes - setting the standard | author = Rohit Brijnath | date = 2006-04-23 | accessdate = 2007-05-28 ] [Cite web | url = http://www.daviscup.com/teams/team.asp?team=IND | title = Team Profile | author = Davis Cup | date = | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] He played an important role in the Indian Davis cup team that reached the world group from 1991–1998. He was part of the Indian Davis Cup team that reached the Semi-Finals of the 1993 Davis Cup with wins against Switzerland and France, eventually losing out to Australia. In singles his major wins came against Wayne Ferreira in 1994, Goran Ivanišević in 1995 when India defeated Croatia, Jan Siemerink in 1995 to defeat Netherlands, Jiří Novák in 1997. [Cite web | url = http://www.daviscup.com/teams/player.asp?player=10001856 | title = Player Profile, www.daviscup.com | author = Davis Cup | date = | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] In doubles his major wins include beating the French Team of Arnaud Boetsch and Henri Leconte in France with Ramesh Krishnan in 1993. [Cite web | url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss2540/25400480.htm | title = The enduring uniqueness of the Davis Cup | author = Rohit Brijnath, The Sportstar Volume 25, No.40, October 05- October 11, 2002. | date = 2002-10-11 | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] He teamed up with Mahesh Bhupathi to beat Hirszon and Ivanisevic of Croatia in 1995, Martin Damm and Petr Korda of Czech Republic in 1997, Nicolás Massú and Marcelo Rios of Chile in 1997, Broad and Tim Henman in 1998 and Simon Aspelin and Jonas Björkman of Sweden in 2005. In 2007, Leander has 3 wins(2 Doubles 1 singles) and no losses in the Davis Cup.

Major career wins

ingles titles

Controversies

Leander Paes and his off and on partnership with fellow Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi draws constant media attention in home country India. [Cite web | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000520/spr-trib.htm#1 | title = Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi finally part ways | author = M S Unnikrishnan | date = 2000-05-20 | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] [Cite web | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020323/spr-trib.htm#1 | title = Did ‘sibling’ rivalry lead to Paes-Bhupathi split? | author = M S Unnikrishnan | date = 2002-03-23 | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] [Cite web | url = http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/04/stories/2006100407701800.htm | title = AITA wants Mahesh Bhupathi back in the team | author = The Hindu | date = 2002-10-04 | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] In the 2006 Asian Games, a loss to the Chinese Taipei in the team event led Leander to question Bhupathi's commitment to Team India. [Cite web | url = http://www.timesnow.tv/Paes_questions_Maheshs_commitment/articleshow/712430.cms | title = Paes questions Mahesh's commitment | author = Times Now | date = 2006-12-05 | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] He once stated in an interview that although he is friends with Bhupathi, he did not consider pairing with his former team-mate. [Cite web | url = http://www.ibnlive.com/news/exclusive-interview-leander-paes/41438-5.html | title = Pairing Hesh not on my mind: Paes | author = IBNLIVE | date = 2006-05-27 | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] However, for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, they decided to play together for their country. [Cite web | url =http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2631943.cms | title = Lee-Hesh to play together in 2008 Olympics| author = The Times of India| date = 2007-12-18 | accessdate = 2007-12-31 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.its.uci.edu/~jaykay/leander.html Leander Paes Fan Site]
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