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Leander Paes

Leander Paes is an Indian professional tennis player who has won eight doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam and he is the oldest man to have won a Grand Slam. He also holds a career Grand Slam in mens double and has achieved the raremens mixed doubles at the 1999 Wimbledon tournament. His mixed doubles Wimbledon title in 2010 made him the second man after Rod Laver to win Wimbledon titles in three decades. He has represented India in consecutive Olympic appearances from 1992 to 2016 and he is the only Indian as well as the only tennis player to compete at seven Olympic Games. He is a former team captain of Davis cup and holds the record for most Davis cups doubles wins with 42 victories. He is the sports ambassador of Haryana state.Born on 17th June 1973 in Calcutta, India his parents are Vece Paes and Jennifer Paes. Leander did his schooling from La Martiniere Calcutta and then he completed his further studies from St. Xaviers college belonging to the University of Calcutta. His parents were both sportsperson, his father was a midfielder in the Indian hockey team and was also a part of 1972 bronze medal winning team in Munich Olympics. His mother played basketball and was the captain of Indian basketball team in the 1980 Asian basketball championship. Paes was coached by Dave OMera in the Britannia Amritraj Tennis Academy from Chennai in 1985. The academy played an important role in his career and he won the 1990 Wimbledon junior title and earned the no. 1 title in Junior world rankings. After winning the junior title in 1990, Paes reached in quarter finals of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. In the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, he won bronze medal defeating Fernando Meligeni and became the first Indian to win an individual medal after four decades. In 1993 in the ATP circuit, he partnered with Sebastien Lareau and reached the US Open doubles semifinal and in 1994 he reached the quarter finals of the 1995Australian open doubles with Kevin Ullyett. In 1996 he partnered with Mahesh Bhupati and in 1997 they reached the semifinals of US Open. Paes climbed the double ranking from 89 to 14 at the end of year and in the same year he also made his best singles performance in Grand Slam and reached the third round of 1997 US Open. In 1998, the doubles team of Bhupati and Paes reached the semifinals of three Grand slams, Australian Open, French Open and US Open and in 1999 the duo reached the finals of all the four Grand Slams and also won the Wimbledon and French Open becoming the first Indian pair to win the Grand Slam. Paes was given the honour of carrying the Indian flag in the Sydney Olympic . In 2002 Asian games in Busan, Paes and Bhupatis duo won the gold medal . FROM 2003, Paes started to focus on doubles and mixed doubles game and won the mixed doubles in Australian Open and Wimbledon with Martina Navratilova. In the 2004 Athens Olympic games his duo with Bhupati and reached the semi finals. Paes then led Indian tennis team at the Doha Asian Games and won two golds, one in mens double partnering with Bhupathi and mixed doubles with Sania Mirza and he maintained his double ranking in top 20 from 2005-07.in 2008 he won the US Open mixed doubles title with Cara Black and in 2009 he won the French Open and US Open doubles title with Lukas Dlouhy and also was the runner up in mixed doubles at the US Open. In 2010 he again won the Australian Open mixed doubles with Cara Black making the pairs third consecutive Grand Slam final and his fourth overall. Paes won the 2013 US Open mens double with RadekStepanek and won his 3rd US Open Mens doubles title and 14th Grand Slam title. He later in 2014 won the Malaysian Open mens double with Marcin Matkowski. In 2015, Paes captured his seventh Grand Slam mixed doubles at the Australian Open with Martina Hingis and also won the Wimbledon Open in 2015 and after this win, he shares the record for most such titles won in the gentlemens section in the open era with Owen Davidson. In June 2016, he completed his Career Grand Slam in mixed doubles tennis by winning the 2016 French Open with Martina Hingis. He also qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Mens double with Rohan Bopanna but the duo didnt perform well in the Olympics.Paes had a live-in relationship with Rhea Pillai in 2005 and the couple has a daughter Aiyana, however she has filed a case of domestic violence against him in June 2014. In 2010, he joined Board of Directors of Olympic Gold Quest a foundation co-founded by Geet Sethi and Prakash Padukone to supported talented athletes from India in winning Olympic medals. He is one of the most successful professional tennis players in India and has received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, Indias highest sporting honour in 1996-97 and the Arjuna Award in 1990; Padma Shri award in 2001 and Padma Bhushan the 3rd highest civilian award in January 2014 for his outstanding performance and contribution to Tennis in India. Apart from Tennis, Paes has also made his film debut in Ashok KohlisRajdhani Express, a socio-political thriller. He has also been offered his first Hollywood script.

Paes, Bhupathi, Mirza Need to Work Together For Growth of Indian Tennis: Becker
PTI | February 18, 2019 7:13 PM IST
Legendary Boris Becker feels the three icons of Indian tennis, Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sai...
Paes, Bhupathi, Mirza Need to Work Together For Growth of Indian Tennis: Becker
indiacom
2019-02-18T08:13:01+00:00
2019-02-18T08:13:01+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Australian Open 2019: Leander Paes-Samantha Stosur Crash Out After Losing to Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Robert Farah
PTI | January 22, 2019 5:48 PM IST
Veteran Leander Paes and his partner Samantha Stosur suffered a second-round defeat in the mixed dou...
Australian Open 2019: Leander Paes-Samantha Stosur Crash Out After Losing to Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Robert
indiacom
2019-01-22T06:48:22+00:00
2019-01-22T06:45:01+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Australian Open: India's Men's Doubles Challenge Ends in Single Day as Divij Sharan-Rohan Bopanna, Leander Paes Knock Out
PTI | January 16, 2019 2:18 PM IST
Australian Open: Country's challenge at the men's doubles event of the Australian Open came crashing...
Australian Open: India's Men's Doubles Challenge Ends in Single Day as Divij Sharan-Rohan Bopanna, Leander Pa
indiacom
2019-01-16T03:18:42+00:00
2019-01-16T03:18:42+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Asian Games Gold Medalist Divij Sharan Returns, N Sriram Balaji Dropped From Indian Davis Cup Team For Italy Tie
India.com Sports Desk | December 31, 2018 1:51 PM IST
Asian Games gold medallist Divij Sharan is set to play his first Davis Cup tie since 2012 after bein...
Asian Games Gold Medalist Divij Sharan Returns, N Sriram Balaji Dropped From Indian Davis Cup Team For Italy
indiacom
2018-12-31T02:51:25+00:00
2018-12-31T03:17:06+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Tennis Ace Leander Paes Still Not Decided Yet When to Retire
India.com Sports Desk | October 21, 2018 11:42 AM IST
Veteran Indian tennis player Leander Paes Saturday said that he's enjoying his game and yet to decid...
Tennis Ace Leander Paes Still Not Decided Yet When to Retire
indiacom
2018-10-21T00:42:11+00:00
2018-10-21T00:41:15+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Asian Games 2018: India Finalise Doubles Combination After Leander Paes' Pull-Out
PTI | August 18, 2018 3:47 PM IST
The Indian tennis contingent squad has finally figured out its doubles combinations less than 24 hou...
Asian Games 2018: India Finalise Doubles Combination After Leander Paes' Pull-Out
indiacom
2018-08-18T04:47:35+00:00
2018-08-18T04:47:35+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Asian Games 2018: Leander Paes' Pull-Out Big Blow to our Medal Chances, Admits Zeeshan Ali
PTI | August 17, 2018 4:45 PM IST
Leander Paes' last-minute withdrawal from the Asian Games has dealt a telling blow to India's medal ...
Asian Games 2018: Leander Paes' Pull-Out Big Blow to our Medal Chances, Admits Zeeshan Ali
indiacom
2018-08-17T05:45:52+00:00
2018-08-17T05:45:52+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Miffed At Not Getting A 'Specialist' Doubles Partner, Leander Paes Pulls Out Of Asian Games 2018
India.com Sports Desk | August 16, 2018 10:18 PM IST
In a huge blow to India's campaign at the Asian Games 2018, veteran tennis star Leander Paes has pul...
Miffed At Not Getting A 'Specialist' Doubles Partner, Leander Paes Pulls Out Of Asian Games 2018
indiacom
2018-08-16T11:18:22+00:00
2018-08-16T11:18:22+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Ramkumar Ramanathan, Leander Paes Make Early Exits From ATP Atlanta Open
PTI Feeds | July 25, 2018 4:54 PM IST
After the high of Hall of Fame Open, India s Ramkumar Ramanathan made a first-round exit from the AT...
Ramkumar Ramanathan, Leander Paes Make Early Exits From ATP Atlanta Open
indiacom
2018-07-25T05:54:22+00:00
2018-07-25T05:54:22+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Ramkumar Not Losing Sleep Over Missing Out on Creating History
India.com Sports Desk | July 23, 2018 6:19 PM IST
A "calmer and focussed" Ramkumar Ramanthan is not crying over losing out on the chance to create his...
Ramkumar Not Losing Sleep Over Missing Out on Creating History
indiacom
2018-07-23T07:19:37+00:00
2018-07-23T07:19:37+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Hall of Fame Open: Ramkumar Ramanathan To Take On America's Tim Smyczek In His First Ever ATP Semi-Final
India.com Sports Desk | July 21, 2018 8:34 AM IST
Ramkumar Ramanathan will on Saturday take on American Tim Smyczek in the semi-finals at the Hall of ...
Hall of Fame Open: Ramkumar Ramanathan To Take On America's Tim Smyczek In His First Ever ATP Semi-Final
indiacom
2018-07-20T21:34:27+00:00
2018-07-20T21:34:27+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Hall of Fame Open: Leander Paes Bows Out, Ramkumar Ramanathan Enters SemiFinals
India.com Sports Desk | July 20, 2018 11:16 AM IST
Veteran Indian tennis ace Leander Paes bowed out of the Hall of Fame Open grasscourt tournament in N...
Hall of Fame Open: Leander Paes Bows Out, Ramkumar Ramanathan Enters SemiFinals
indiacom
2018-07-20T00:16:04+00:00
2018-07-20T00:16:04+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
ATP Hall of Fame Open: Leander Paes Wins First Match After Returning to Tour
PTI Feeds | July 20, 2018 8:52 AM IST
Veteran Indian star Leander Paes, who missed the entire clay and the grass court season, made a winn...
ATP Hall of Fame Open: Leander Paes Wins First Match After Returning to Tour
indiacom
2018-07-19T21:52:05+00:00
2018-07-19T21:52:05+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Davis Cup: Leander Paes Creates History as India Win Doubles Match
India.com News Desk | April 7, 2018 11:59 AM IST
Tianjin (China), April 7: Ace tennis player Leander Paes created a record for the most doubles wins ...
Davis Cup: Leander Paes Creates History as India Win Doubles Match
indiacom
2018-04-07T00:59:14+00:00
2018-04-07T01:06:16+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Leander Paes-Purav Raja Lose in Pre-Quarters of Australian Open 2018
India.com Sports Desk | January 21, 2018 1:12 PM IST
New Delhi: The Indian duo of Leander Paes and Purav Raja bowed out of the 2018 Australian Open follo...
Leander Paes-Purav Raja Lose in Pre-Quarters of Australian Open 2018
indiacom
2018-01-21T02:12:06+00:00
2018-01-21T02:12:06+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Australian Open 2018: Leander Paes-Purav Raja Battle Into Pre-Quarters
India.com Sports Desk | January 20, 2018 1:20 PM IST
New Delhi: The unseeded Indian pair of Leander Paes and Purav Raja booked their place in the pre-qua...
Australian Open 2018: Leander Paes-Purav Raja Battle Into Pre-Quarters
indiacom
2018-01-20T02:20:17+00:00
2018-01-20T02:20:17+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Australian Open 2018: Doubles Pairs Leander Paes-Purav Raja, Rohan Bopanna-Divij Sharan Advance to Second Round
India.com Sports Desk | January 18, 2018 3:00 PM IST
New Delhi: Veteran Leander Paes and fellow Purav Raja defeated their opponents to advance to the men...
Australian Open 2018: Doubles Pairs Leander Paes-Purav Raja, Rohan Bopanna-Divij Sharan Advance to Second Rou
indiacom
2018-01-18T04:00:46+00:00
2018-01-18T04:00:46+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Rhea Pillai Goes Bankrupt Paying for Daughter's Brain Tumour Treatment As Ex Leander Paes Refuses to Support
India.com Buzz Desk | September 28, 2017 10:29 PM IST
The changing equations in a couple s relationship can be quite baffling. And when there s a child in...
Rhea Pillai Goes Bankrupt Paying for Daughter's Brain Tumour Treatment As Ex Leander Paes Refuses to Support
indiacom
2017-09-28T11:29:57+00:00
2017-09-28T11:34:35+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
St Petersburg Open: Leander Paes and Purav Raja in Quarterfinals
PTI Feeds | September 21, 2017 2:47 PM IST
New Delhi: Leander Paes and Purav Raja, who are trying to establish as a pair on the ATP World Tour,...
St Petersburg Open: Leander Paes and Purav Raja in Quarterfinals
indiacom
2017-09-21T03:47:17+00:00
2017-09-21T03:59:13+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com
Leander Paes Dropped From Sports Ministry's List For Monthly Allowance
PTI Feeds | September 15, 2017 7:44 PM IST
New Delhi: The Sports Ministry has left out veteran Leander Paes and Saketh Myneni from the initial ...
Leander Paes Dropped From Sports Ministry's List For Monthly Allowance
indiacom
2017-09-15T08:44:42+00:00
2017-09-15T09:07:09+00:00
Leander Paes
India.com