Leander Paes
Personal Profile
Leander Paes
Date of Birth:
June 17, 1973Zodiac Sign:
GeminiPlace of Birth:
Calcutta, IndiaHeight:
5' 9"Weight:
77 kgSex:
MaleHair Color:
Black Eye Color:
BrownNationality:
IndianEducation:
La Martiniere, Calcutta
Family
Leander Paes
Father:
Vece PaesMother:
Jennifer PaesSpouse:
RheaDaughter:
Aiyana
Career
Leander Paes
Awards
Leander Paes
1996 : Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
2001 : Padmashri Award by the Government of India
Trivia
Leander Paes
- Leander Paes started his Davis Cup career in 1990 at a young age of 16, when he partnered Zeeshan Ali in the doubles to beat the Japanese team in a gruelling 5 set encounter. He is considered as one of the top Davis cup players for his country with a record of 81–30 overall as of May 2007.He played an important role in the Indian Davis cup team that reached the world group from 1991–1998.
submitted by - Amitabh Dhiman
- Leander Paes and his off and on partnership with fellow Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi draws constant media attention in home country India.In the 2006 Asian Games, a loss to the Chinese Taipei in the team event led Leander to question Bhupathi's commitment to Team India.He once stated in an interview that although he and Bhupathi are friends, he did not consider pairing with his former team-mate.However, for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, they decided to play together for their country, and l
submitted by - Amit Kher
- Leander went one better at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where he beat Fernando Meligeni to win the Bronze medal, thus becoming the first Indian to win an individual medal since KD Jadhav won Bronze at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics more than four decades earlier.
submitted by - Aksh Dhiman
- In 1992, he reached the quarter finals of the doubles event in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics with Ramesh Krishnan.
submitted by - Amit Sana
- Paes showed promise early in his career by winning titles at the Junior US Open and the Junior Wimbledon. He turned professional in 1991.
submitted by - Nihaal Jain
Quotes
Leander Paes
- Russia in Russia is going to be hard. They have so many top players even if Marat Safin does not play. They have World No.8 Nikolay Davidenko apart from Mikahil Youzhny, Dmitry Tursunov, Igor Andreev, Igor Kunitsyn, all in the top-50. Anyway, we will play our hearts out. - Unknown
submitted by - Adline Systems
- At this level, expectation will be there. There are hopes of a billion people on Tendulkar to hit a century every time he takes the bat. He is still the best player and continues to perform for the country. - Unknown
submitted by - Soha Ali
- You can never really replace a legend like Leander Paes, he is such a great player. But hopefully I will do even better than him (Paes). The goal is to play the Grand Slam in a couple of years and to be among the best in the world. But there is still time for that and there is a lot of improvements to be done. - Unknown
submitted by - Akshya Dhiman
- I am just happy to be part of the team and given the chance, I have proved myself. It brings out your best while representing your country. - Unknown
submitted by - Soha Ali
- This probably is the best year so far having won the Junior Australian Open. I want to keep working hard and keep the momentum going. - Unknown
submitted by - Sanjeev Dhiman
Biography
Leander Paes
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Leander Adrian Paes professional Indian tennis players born June 17, 1973 Leander was born in Goa, India to Vece Paes and Jennifer Paes and raised in Calcutta, India.He was educated at La Martiniere Calcutta for Boys. His father and mother were both former Olympians. His father Vece Paes was a hockey player who represented India in the 1972 Munich Olympic games, in the hockey team that won the bronze medal. His mother captained the Indian basketball team in the 1980 Asian basketball championship.Paes enrolled with the Britannia Amritraj Tennis Academy in Madras in 1985 where he was coached by Dave'O'Meara. The academy played a key role in his early development. Paes is the great grandson of the Bengali poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt.
Previously having dated bollywood actress Mahima Chaudhary, he is now married to Rhea Pillai and has a daughter Aiyana Paes.Paes showed promise early in his career by winning titles at the Junior US Open and the Junior Wimbledon. He turned professional in 1991. He rose to the number 1 in the world in the junior rankings In 1992, he reached the quarter finals of the doubles event in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics with Ramesh Krishnan.1996 Atlanta Olympics, where he beat Fernando Meligeni to win the Bronze medal, thus becoming the first Indian since KD Jadhav (Bronze in 1952 Helsinki Olympics) to win an individual medal for more than 4 decades.
His first successful year in the ATP circuit came in 1993 when he partnered Sebastien Lareau to reach the US Open doubles semi-final. After having a moderate season in 1994 he reached the Quarter final of the 1995 Australian Open doubles with Kevin Ullyett.From 1996 he started partnering with fellow Indian Mahesh Bhupathi Paes climbed the doubles ranking from 89 at the beginning of the year to 14 at the end of the year currently features in the doubles events in the ATP tour and the Davis Cup tournament. He has won various doubles and mixed doubles events at the Tennis Grand Slam events. He is also the recipient of India's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 1996-1997 and the Padmashri award in 2001 for his contribution to Tennis in India.