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Leander Paes: "Tennis Star of India"
Leander Paes
Leander took to tennis at the age of six. His parents are both avid sportspersons father Vece is a former Olympian hockey player and his mother Jennifer, a basketball international.
He captured the 1990 Wimbledon Junior title and ranked as the No.1 junior player in the world.
His most precious possession is the medal he won at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 in the tennis singles. He beat Reneberg, Pereira, Enqvist and Furlan before losing to Agassi in a SF match in which he held two set points 7-6, 6-3. Bounced back for win over Meligeni to score 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in bronze medal match to become first athlete from India to win an individual medal since 1952. And as he stood on the podium wearing his bronze medal, millions of his countrymen watched Leander Paes weep tears of pride and joy. Greeted by 5,000 people at airport when he arrived home.
Leander, who has pulled off some amazing upsets in the Davis Cup, has always surpassed himself when playing for the country.
Paes with Agassi and bruguera.(1996)
He once said,"I always seem to rise to the occasion whenever pushed against the wall."
Paes faced Agassi again in remarkable U.S. Open 2nd RD match, taking 6-3 4-0 lead before losing in four sets.
Reached first ATP Tour SF on the grass in Newport (l.to Pereira)with wins over Cash, Knowles and B. Black. Also gained QF on grass in Rosmalen.
Best Challenger results were the title at Mauritius (on grass) in November, final in Madras (l. to Ogorodov) in September, SF in Jerusalem and QF in Salinas and Tanagura.
Strong Challenger doubles results with four titles (Fergana, Aruba and Madras all w/Bhupathi Jerusalem w/Godwin) and two finals (Andijan and Annenheim, both w/Bhupathi).
| Profile |
| Nationality: | India |
| Birth Date: | 17 June, 1973 |
| Birthplace: | Calcutta, India |
| Residence: | Calcutta, India |
| Height: | 1.78 metres ( 5 ft. 10 in. ) |
| Weight: | 77.7 kilos ( 171 lbs. ) |
| Plays: | Right |
| Year Turned Pro: | 1991 |
| Current 52 week rank for singles: | 445 |
| Current ATP Champions Race Position: | 201 |
| Current Doubles Rank: | 11 |
| High Rank for singles: | 73 (1998) |
| High ATP Champions Race Position: | 34 (2000) |
| High rank for doubles: | 1 |
| High rank date for doubles: | 21 June, 1999 |
| Career titles for singles: | 1 |
| Career titles for doubles: | 24 |
| Career matches won: | 89 |
| Career matches lost: | 93 |
| Year to date matches won: | 4 |
| Year to date matches lost: | 1 |
| Career prize money: | $ 2,862,524 USD |
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Paes with Lisa Raymond(2001) |
| | | | Grand Slam Singles Results |
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| Year | Australian Open | Roland Garros(Paris) | Wimbledon |
US Open |
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| 1994 | - | - | - | 1ST | | | 1995 | 1ST | - | - | - |
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| 1996 | - | - | 1ST | 2ND | | | 1997 | 2ND | 2ND | 1ST | 3RD | |
| 1998 | 1ST | - | 1ST | 1ST | | | 1999 | 1ST | - | 1ST | - |
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| 2000 | 2ND | - | - | - | | | 2001 | - | - | 2ND | - |
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| Grand Slam Doubles Results |
| | | | | | | | |
| Year | Australian Open | Roland Garros | Wimbledon | US Open |
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| 1993 | - | - | 1ST | SF | | | 1994 | 2ND | - | 3RD | 2ND |
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| 1995 | QF | - | - | 1ST |
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| 1996 | - | - | 2ND | - |
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| 1997 | 1ST | 2ND | 1ST | SF |
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| 1998 | SF | SF | 2ND | SF |
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| 1999 | RUP | WON | WON | RUP |
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| 2000 | 1ST | 1ST | - | 1ST |
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| 2001 | 1ST | WON | 1ST | 1ST |
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| 2002 | 2ND | - | - | - |
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| 2003 | - | - | WON | - |
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WON = Tournament Champion
RUP = Tournament Runner Up
SF = Semi Finalist
QF = Quarter Finalist
4TH = Lost in Fourth Round
3RD = Lost in Third Round
2ND = Lost in Second Round
1ST = Lost in First Round
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Paes with Bhupathi |
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