The top 5 achievements of Leander Paes' career

17! That’s the number of Grand Slams Leander Paes has won in his illustrious career. Add to that junior titles at SW19 and Flushing Meadows and we have perhaps one of the greatest sportspersons India has ever produced.As was evident from his exploits at the recently concluded US Open, Paes is blessed with supreme natural gifts, an alert and receptive mind, and a physique that is still strong, supple and perfectly coordinated. As a result, he displays a lightning quickness in conception and execution that no one has ever quite equaled.Paes’ extraordinary quickness of eye and mind allow him to do things utterly impractical for others. But then it’s his zeal that makes him stand out. Time and again, over the years he has put country above everything else and that, for the millions who support him, is most awe-inspiring.People often talk about his age and how he discontinued playing singles to pursue and focus on doubles full time. That should not be the case though, for we should ideally be willing to look upon Paes as a character actor now, as a piece in an ensemble who is acting as a guiding force to Indian tennis.Ahead of India’s World Group Play-off vs Czech Republic, we pay homage to Paes and look back at some of his most illustrious achievements:

#5 Three-peat in 2015

Leander Paes and Martina Hingis with the Australian Open title

Just when people had started to write him off, Paes recorded arguably his best season on tour this year. In fact, if not for the disappointment at Roland Garros, he could have clinched the calendar Grand Slam in mixed doubles with Switzerland’s Martina Hingis.

#4 Indian Express: the partnership with Mahesh Bhupati

Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi

Three Grand Slam doubles titles, a world record run of 27 wins in the Davis Cup and an enviable 303-103 record on the ATP tour make Paes and Bhupathi India’s most illustrious doubles team ever. All the unrest, arguments and controversies off-court can do little to change that fact

#3 Winning the junior singles title at Wimbledon in 1990

Leander played his first Olympics two years later

In 1990, Paes became just the third Indian after Ramanathan and Ramesh Krishnan to win the junior Wimbledon title. Subsequently, he also went on to the junior US Open title and was ranked 1 in the world in the junior category.

#2 Career Grand Slam in men\'s doubles

Leander Paes with Radek Stepanek

Nobody had beaten the top 3 seeds in the men's doubles in one edition at a Grand Slam. Paes did just that to win the 2012 Australian Open men's doubles title. Partnering Radek Stepanek, he added to titles he had won at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Flusing Meadows to complete a Career Slam, a feat he still ranks as one of his best!

#1 Bronze medal in Atlanta Olympics

Leander Pes with Fernando Meligini and Andre Agassi

Paes once joked that he was conceived at the Olympics village in Munich. It was therefore pretty apt that he ended India’s 44-year wait for an individual medal at the multi-sporting extravaganza.

After losing to the eventual gold medalist – Andre Agassi – in the 1996 edition of the Games, he beat Fernando Meligeni to clinch the bronze medal. Consequently, he was awarded the highest sporting honour by the government of India, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, that year.

This was India’s first Olympic medal since KD Jadahv’s bronze in 1952.