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Right from the open era, Indian participation has been consistent and significant in the world of tennis. Although, largely a game for the elite, a few careers see the light of the day from India and have made their mark in the history of the sport.Here we list out 5 of the most successful Indian tennis players ever.
#1 Leander Paes
In the past two and a half decades since Paes turned pro, he has won eight men’s doubles and nine mixed doubles grand slam titles. He is largely lauded as one of the most successful Indian tennis players ever.
For his service in the field of tennis, Leander Paes has been awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2014, Padma Shri in 2001, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 1996-97 and Arjuna award in 1990. Apart from these, he has also achieved a rare feat of winning both the Men’s Double title and Mixed Double title at a single event in Wimbledon 1999.
Highest Rank Achieved
Singles: #73 (on 24 August 1998)
Doubles: #1 (on 21 June 1999)
#2 Sania Mirza
An obvious name in this list of the most successful Indian tennis players ever, Sania Mirza dominated the position of No.1 Women Singles in India for a decade – 2003-2013 after which she retired from Singles tennis and continues to play Doubles.
During that time she held a record of 62.7% win rate (271-161) with wins over players like Dinara Safin, Martina Hingis, Marion Bartoli, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Victoria Azarenka and many more. Mirza has won two Women’s Doubles grand slams and three Mixed Doubles grand slams, three of which came in the past two years.
She is currently ranked No.1 in Doubles.
Highest Rank Achieved
Singles: #27 (27 August 2007)
Doubles: #1 (13 April 2015)
#3 Vijay Amritraj
One of the famous trio of Amritraj brothers who ascended into the realm of tennis and made their’s a household name in India. Vijay Amritraj, although never won any grand slam, reached a career high ranking in singles of 16 after his 14th (of 18) ATP Tour title with a 56.35% win ratio (390-302). He won 14 ATP Tour Doubles titles.
He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1983 for his service the field of tennis. He was part of the Indian Davis Cup team which reached finals in 1974 and 1987, losing to South Africa and Sweden, respectively. Vijay Amritraj also enjoyed a brief stint in Hollywood and acted in movies such as James Bond: Octopussy and Star Trek IV: The Voyage home. He also acted in few drama tv-series in the USA.
Highest Rank Achieved
Singles: #16 (on 7 July 1980)
Doubles: #23 (on 24 March 1980)
#4 Mahesh Bhupathi
A name very much synonymous with that of Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi turned pro in mid-nineties and very soon came to be known as one of the most successful Indian tennis players ever after winning the first Grand Slam (mixed doubles) title ever by an Indian, at the Australian Open in 1997.
Although Bhupathi didn’t fare very well in the singles circuit, he went on to add seven Men’s doubles and eight Mixed doubles titles to his belt, reaching his career best #1 in Men’s double on 26 April 1999. He also recently started the International Premier Tennis League in November 2014, which recently completed its second season.
Highest Rank Achieved
Singles: #217 (on 2 February 1998)
Doubles: #1 (on 26 April 1999)
#5 Ramanathan Krishnan
Not only one of the most successful players in India but also in the world during the 50s and 60s. Ramanathan Krishnan remains the only Indian to have reached a Singles semi-final match, as he reached Wimbledon semis on two occasion – in 1960 and 1961 – and Quarterfinals of the French Open in 1962.
Krishnan is also the only Indian to have broken into the world top 10, a list at that time compiled and maintained by a well-known British journalist Lance Tingay. For his exemplary service in the field of tennis, Krishnan was awarded the Arjuna award in 1961, Padma Shree in 1962 and Padma Bhushan in 1967.
Highest Rank Achieved
Singles: #6 (in 1961)
