Tennis legends Leander Paes, Vijay Amritraj and Richard Evans were officially inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday night in Newport. The historic event marks a significant milestone as Paes and Amritraj are the first two Indian and Asian men to receive this prestigious honour, while Evans is being celebrated for his exceptional stories and efforts to grow the sport.

In an evening of admiration and nostalgia, family, friends, fans and fellow Hall of Famers from around the world gathered to honor Paes, Amritraj and Evans for their remarkable contributions to tennis over the past 50 years. Paes was inducted into the Hall in the Player Category, while Amritraj and Evans were honored in the Contributor Category, in recognition of their visionary leadership and profound impact on the game. Their induction brings the total number of Hall of Famers to 267, representing 28 countries.

Leander Paes, widely regarded as one of the best doubles players in tennis history, has won 18 Grand Slam titles, eight in doubles and ten in mixed doubles. He held the world No. 1 doubles ranking for 37 weeks and won 54 doubles titles on tour. Paes is one of only three men to have won a career Grand Slam in both disciplines. Paes represented India in a record seven consecutive Olympic Games and remains the country’s only Olympic tennis medalist, having won a bronze medal in singles at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Vijay Amritraj broke onto the ATP Tour in 1970 and quickly became a pioneer for the sport in India and Asia. As a key member of India’s Davis Cup team, Amritraj led his country to the final in 1974 and 1987. After his retirement, he became the face of tennis broadcasts in Asia and the Middle East and played a crucial role in promoting professional tennis in India. In 2001, Amritraj made history as the first Indian to serve as a United Nations Messenger of Peace. His philanthropic efforts continued with the establishment of the Vijay Amritraj Foundation in 2006, to support education and basic needs for underprivileged women and children in India.

Richard Evans, a leading journalist, has chronicled tennis history for more than six decades, covering over 200 Grand Slams and professional tournaments. His prolific career includes reporting on politics, history and sports. Evans is the author of 23 books on Open Era tennis, the Davis Cup and biographies of the sport’s legends. He played a key role in the development of the ATP Tour and has held several leadership positions, including founder and former president of the International Tennis Writers’ Association.

Before the ceremony, Paes, Amritraj and Evans received their signature Hall of Fame blazers. The celebration continued during the official Induction Celebration, where the inductees were honored for their monumental contributions to tennis.

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