Leander Paes

Tennis for India

Born : Goa, June 17,1973

Height: 5'10'' (177 cm)

Turned pro in 1991

Father, Vece, was a member of the bronze medal Indian field hockey team in the 1972 Munich Olympics, and mother, Jennifer, was a member of the Indian basketball team

Joined the Britannia Tennis Academy in Madras in 1985 where he was coached by Dave O'Meara.

Won the 1990 Wimbledon Junior title and ranked as the No. 1 junior player in the world at one time before finishing No. 2

Member of the Davis Cup squad since 1990 and playing captain since 2004, has a 76-30 career record in 38 ties (46-21 in singles)

Won singles bronze medal in Atlanta Olympics (d. Meligeni), first medal for India since 1980 and first individual medal since 1952

was a joint winner of India's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in the year 1996-1997.

Highest Singles Ranking - 73 on 24 August 1998, became first Indian to finish in Top 100 since Ramesh Krishan in 1990. Won first ATP singles title in Newport (d. Godwin). It was first title by an Indian since Krishnan in 1990

In Men's Doubles, won six titles in eight finals (w/Bhupathi) in 1998. Finished No. 2 in Team Rankings and No. 4 individually.

In 1999 – Won three doubles titles, including Roland Garros and Wimbledon (w/Bhupathi). Became first team to reach finals of all four Grand Slams in same year since 1952

Reached No. 1 individually in doubles on June 21, 1999 and finished as No. 1 ranked team

Carried Indian flag during opening ceremonies of 2000 Sydney Olympics

In 2001, he and Bhupathi received India’s highest honor, the Padma Shri, which goes to Indian citizens in recognition of their distinguished service to nation

In 2006, won the men's doubles Gold in Asian Games 2006 in Doha partnering Bhupathi and the mixed doubles Gold at the same championship partnering Sania Mirza.


SINGLES CAREER TITLES (1):
1998--Newport

DOUBLES CAREER TITLES (36):
2006--Hertogenbosch, US Open;
2005--Bangkok, ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo, Barcelona;
2004--Canada AMS, Gstaad, Halle, Delray Beach;
2003--Dubai, Gstaad, Delray Beach;
2002--Chennai, Mallorca;
2001--Atlanta, Cincinnati TMS, Houston, Roland Garros;
2000--Tokyo, Orlando;
1999--Newport, Chennai, Roland Garros, Wimbledon;
1998--Chennai, Doha, Dubai, Paris Indoor, Rome, Shanghai;
1997--Beijing, Chennai, Montreal / Toronto, New Haven, Prague, Singapore

DOUBLES FINALIST (20):
2007--Doha;
2006--Australian Open;
2005--ATP Masters Series Madrid, Stockholm, Tennis Masters Cup Doubles;
2004--Dubai, US Open;
2003--'s-Hertogenbosch, Miami TMS;
2001--Basel, Paris TMS;
2000--Doubles Championship;
1999--Australian Open, Doubles Championship, US Open, Indianapolis;
1998--Singapore, Stuttgart Indoor;
1997--Doubles Championship;
1995--New Haven