Tennis in India | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Country | India |
Governing body | All India Tennis Association |
National team(s) | India Davis Cup team (men) India Billie Jean King Cup team (women) |
Tennis enjoys a considerable following in India. Although it is limited to urban areas but still it is counted among the most popular national sports. [1] India has produced a number of tennis players, who have achieved international recognition and have made their presence in some of the top tennis tournaments and grand slams. [2] All India Tennis Association (AITA) established in 1920, is the governing body of tennis in India and is a member of the Asian Tennis Federation. [3] India Davis Cup team is the most successful team of Asia in Davis Cup, who has finished as runners-up 3 times. [4]
Tennis has been a popular sport in India since around the 1880s when the British Army and civilian officers brought the game to India. Soon after regular tournaments like the Punjab Lawn Tennis Championship at Lahore (Pakistan, 1885); Bengal Lawn Tennis Championship at Calcutta (1887), and the All India Tennis Championships at Allahabad (1910) were organised. In the history of major tournaments, India has already beaten among others France, Romania, Holland, Belgium, Spain and Greece in Davis Cup ties (1921 to 1929). [5] [6]
The history of tennis in India goes back a long way. In the 1880s, the British introduced the game of tennis in India during the colonial rule and soon it started gaining momentum. BK Nehru in 1905 and Sardar Nihal Singh in 1908 were later joined by M Saleem, Fayzee brothers and Jagat Mohan Lal who made it to last 16 stages at the Wimbledon. Ghaus Mohammad was the first Indian to reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 1939 where he lost to American champion Bobby Riggs.
According to the All India Tennis Association, in Davis Cup ties between 1921 and 1929, India beat, among others, France, Romania, Holland, Belgium, Spain and Greece. Top Indian players like Saleem, the Fayzee brothers, Cotah Ramaswamy and Krishna Prasad beat a large number of ranked European players and teams to bring glory to the nation.
In the 1960s, the sport witnessed a golden era. Ramanathan Krishnan earned his highest seeding – No. 4 in Wimbledon in 1962. In the Davis Cup, India repeatedly became the Zonal Champions. Ramanathan Krishnan, along with Premjit Lall, SP Misra, Jaidip Mukerjea and RK Khanna as the non-playing captain, steered India to the Cup finals in 1966. They lost the Cup but not before Krishnan and Mukerjea beat Newcombe and Tony Roche, the Wimbledon champions, (1965) in doubles.
In the 1970s, Vijay Amritraj burst onto the scene. With teammates Sashi Menon, Jasjit Singh and brother Anand Amritraj, Vijay took India to World Cup Finals for the second time in 1974. Vijay also made it to the quarterfinals of US Open in 1973 and 1981; and Wimbledon in 1973 and 1974. Ramesh Krishnan, the son of Ramanathan Krishnan, won the junior Wimbledon championship and junior French Open title in 1979 and was ranked number 1 junior in the world. He made it to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon (1986) and US Open (twice). [7]
The 1990s saw the rise of Leander Paes who won the bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics. In 1997, Mahesh Bhupathi became India's first ever grand slam winner when he won the mixed doubles at French Open. Paes partnered with Bhupati to reach the finals of all four grand slams in 1999, winning two. [8] In the 2000s and 2010s, playing separately or together, Paes and Bhupati won several grand slam doubles and mixed doubles tournaments.
The 2000s saw India's first WTA tournament winner Sania Mirza. Mirza also won a number of grand slam titles in doubles in the late 2000s and 2010s.
India's last 2010s grand slam win came in 2017 when Rohan Bopanna won the mixed doubles title at French Open. At the end of 2010s, Prajnesh Gunneswaran was the only Indian men's singles player in the top 100. [9] In 2021 Ankita Raina became the 2nd woman from India to win a WTA title and enter into top 100 doubles rankings. India's latest grand slam win came in 2024 with Rohan Bopanna winning the men's doubles title at Australian Open.
In February 2024, Sumit Nagal made his top 100 debut becoming the tenth Indian tennis player to reach the Top 100, [10] which he reached by defeating Luca Nardi in the final of the Challenger in Chennai. [11] [12]
In 1997, India won their first Grand Slam title at the French Open, in the mixed doubles. Since then Indians have won Grand Slam titles in the mixed doubles, men's doubles, women's doubles besides girls' doubles events. No Indian has so far won a Grand Slam Singles title in the men's or women's category.
Mixed doubles
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Players | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1997 | French Open | Clay | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 1998 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 1999 | US Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | Donald Johnson ![]() | 6–4, 6–4 |
Winner | 1999 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 2001 | US Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 5–7, 6–7 (9–11) |
Winner | 2002 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 7–5 |
Winner | 2003 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 2003 | French Open | Clay | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 2003 | Wimbledon (3) | Grass | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 2004 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 2005 | French Open | Clay | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
Winner | 2005 | Wimbledon (4) | Grass | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–2 |
Winner | 2005 | US Open (2) | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–2 |
Winner | 2006 | Australian Open (2) | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 2007 | US Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 7–6(8–6) |
Runner-up | 2008 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7(4–7), 4–6 |
Winner | 2008 | US Open (3) | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 6–4 |
Winner | 2009 | Australian Open (3) | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 2009 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 2009 | US Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 6–4 |
Winner | 2010 | Australian Open (4) | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 6–3 |
Winner | 2010 | Wimbledon (5) | Grass | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 2011 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 2012 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 7–5, [3–10] |
Winner | 2012 | French Open (2) | Clay | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6(7–3), 6–1 |
Runner-up | 2012 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 7–5, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 2014 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 2014 | US Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 2–6, [11–9] |
Winner | 2015 | Australian Open (3) | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–3 |
Winner | 2015 | Wimbledon (4) | Grass | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 6–1 |
Winner | 2017 | French Open | Clay | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 6–2, [12–10] |
Runner up | 2018 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 4–6, [9–11] |
Runner up | 2023 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7(2–7), 2-6 |
Men's doubles
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Players | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1999 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 6–4, 4–6, 7–6(12–10), 4–6 |
Winner | 1999 | French Open | Clay | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 7–5 |
Winner | 1999 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7, 6–3, 6–4, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 1999 | US Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7, 4–6 |
Winner | 2001 | French Open (2) | Clay | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 6–3 |
Winner | 2002 | US Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 3–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 2003 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 3–6, 6–7(4–7), 3–6 |
Runner-up | 2004 | US Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 2006 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 3–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 2006 | US Open (2) | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 2008 | US Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7(5–7), 6–7(10–12) |
Runner-up | 2009 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 5–7, 0–6 |
Winner | 2009 | French Open (3) | Clay | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 2009 | US Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 3–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 2009 | US Open (3) | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 2010 | French Open | Clay | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 5–7, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 2010 | US Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7(5–7), 6–7(4–7) |
Runner-up | 2011 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 2012 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6(7–1), 6–2 |
Runner-up | 2012 | US Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 2013 | US Open (4) | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 6–3 |
Winner | 2024 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6(7–0), 7–5 |
Women's doubles
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Players | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 2011 | French Open | Clay | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 2015 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 5–7, 7–6(7–4), 7–5 |
Winner | 2015 | US Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–3 |
Winner | 2016 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6(7–1), 6-3 |
The list include Indian players who have had a ranking inside the ATP or WTA top 100. The rankings were introduced in 1973 (men) and 1975 (women). [13]
Player | Ranking | Date reached top 100 | Date reached highest ranking | ATP Tour | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High | Current | Turned Pro | Retired | Titles | |||
Vijay Amritraj | 18 | N/A | 1973, August 23 | 1980, October 20 | 1970 | 1993 | 15 |
Ramesh Krishnan | 23 | N/A | 1979, May 21 | 1985, January 28 | 1976 | 1993 | 8 |
Somdev Devvarman | 62 | N/A | 2010, August 2 | 2011, July 25 | 2002 | 2016 | 0 |
Sumit Nagal | 68 | 68 | 2024, July 15 | 2024, July 15 | 2013 | 0 | |
Sashi Menon | 71 | N/A | 1975, September 16 | 1975, October 21 | 1970 | 1985 | 0 |
Leander Paes | 73 | N/A | 1997, September 8 | 1998, October 24 | 1990 | 2008 | 1 |
Anand Amritraj | 74 | N/A | 1973, September 26 | 1974, November 6 | 1968 | 1990 | 0 |
Prajnesh Gunneswaran | 75 | N/A | 2019, February 11 | 2019, April 22 | 2007 | 0 | |
Yuki Bhambri | 83 | N/A | 2015, October 19 | 2018, April 16 | 2007 | 0 | |
Jasjit Singh | 89 | N/A | 1973, November 26 | 1974, June 3 | 1965 | 1979 | 0 |
Player | Ranking | Date reached top 100 | Date reached highest ranking | WTA Tour | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High | Current | Turned Pro | Retired | Titles | |||
Sania Mirza | 27 | N/A | 2005, February 14 | 2007, August 27 | 2003 | 2013 | 1 |
Competition | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Olympic Games | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Davis Cup | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
Commonwealth Games | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Asian Games | 10 | 7 | 17 | 34 |
Total | 11 | 11 | 25 | 47 |
Year | Event | Player | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1924 | |||
Men's singles | Sydney Jacob | Quarter-finals | |
Men's doubles | Syed Mohammad Hadi Donald Rutnam | Quarter-finals | |
1992 | |||
Men's doubles | Leander Paes Ramesh Krishnan | Quarter-finals | |
1996 | |||
Men's singles | Leander Paes | ![]() | |
2004 | |||
Men's doubles | Leander Paes Mahesh Bhupathi | 4th | |
2008 | |||
Men's doubles | Leander Paes Mahesh Bhupathi | Quarter-finals | |
2012 | |||
Mixed doubles | Leander Paes Sania Mirza | Quarter-finals | |
2016 | |||
Mixed doubles | Rohan Bopanna Sania Mirza | 4th |
Year | Recipient | Award | Gender |
---|---|---|---|
1996–1997 | Leander Paes | Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna | Male |
2015 | Sania Mirza | Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna | Female |
1961 | Ramanathan Krishnan | Arjuna Award | Male |
1962 | Naresh Kumar | Arjuna Award | Male |
1966 | Jaidip Mukerjea | Arjuna Award | Male |
1967 | Premjit Lall | Arjuna Award | Male |
1974 | Vijay Amritraj | Arjuna Award | Male |
1978–1979 | Nirupama Mankad | Arjuna Award | Female |
1980–1981 | Ramesh Krishnan | Arjuna Award | Male |
1985 | Anand Amritraj | Arjuna Award | Male |
1990 | Leander Paes | Arjuna Award | Male |
1995 | Mahesh Bhupathi | Arjuna Award | Male |
1996 | Gaurav Natekar | Arjuna Award | Male |
1997 | Asif Ismail | Arjuna Award | Male |
2000 | Akhtar Ali + | Arjuna Award | Male |
2001 | Sandeep Kirtane | Arjuna Award | Male |
2004 | Sania Mirza | Arjuna Award | Female |
2011 | Somdev Devvarman | Arjuna Award | Male |
2017 | Saketh Myneni | Arjuna Award | Male |
2018 | Rohan Bopanna | Arjuna Award | Male |
2020 | Divij Sharan | Arjuna Award | Male |
2021 | Ankita Raina | Arjuna Award | Female |
2014 | Zeeshan Ali | Dhyan Chand Award | Male |
2015 | Shiv Prakash Mishra | Dhyan Chand Award | Male |
2019 | Nitin Kirtane | Dhyan Chand Award | Male |
2020 | Nandan P. Bal | Dhyan Chand Award | Male |
2020 | Naresh Kumar + | Dronacharya Award | Male |
+ Indicates a Lifetime contribution honour |
Martina Hingis is a Swiss former professional tennis player. Hingis was the first Swiss player, male or female, to win a major title and to attain a world No. 1 ranking. She spent a total of 209 weeks as the singles world No. 1 and 90 weeks as doubles world No. 1, holding both No. 1 rankings simultaneously for 29 weeks. She won five major singles titles, 13 major women's doubles titles, and seven major mixed doubles titles, for a combined total of 25 major titles. In addition, she won the season-ending WTA Finals two times in singles and three in doubles, an Olympic silver medal in doubles, and a record 17 Tier I singles titles.
Sania Mirza is an Indian former professional tennis player. A former doubles world No. 1, she won six major titles – three in women's doubles and three in mixed doubles. From 2003 until her retirement from singles in 2013, she was ranked by the Women's Tennis Association as the No. 1 Indian in singles. Throughout her career, Mirza has established herself as one of the most known, highest-paid, and influential athletes in India.
Ramanathan Krishnan is a retired tennis player from India who was among the world's leading players in the 1950s and 1960s. He was twice a semifinalist at Wimbledon in 1960 and 1961, reaching as high as World No. 3 in Potter's amateur rankings. He led India to the Challenge Round of the 1966 Davis Cup against Australia and was the non playing captain when Vijay Amritraj and Anand Amritraj led India into the 1974 Davis Cup finals against South Africa. He was active from 1953 to 1975 and won 69 singles titles.
Ramesh Krishnan is an Indian tennis coach and former professional tennis player. As a junior player in the late 1970s, he won the singles titles at both, Wimbledon and the French Open. He went on to reach three Grand Slam quarterfinals in the 1980s and was a part of the Indian team captained by Vijay Amritraj which reached the final of the Davis Cup in 1987 against Sweden. Krishnan also beat then-world No. 1, Mats Wilander, at the 1989 Australian Open. He became India's Davis Cup captain in 2007.
Cara Cavell Black is a Zimbabwean former professional tennis player. Black was primarily a doubles specialist, winning 60 WTA Tour and 11 ITF doubles titles. A former doubles world No. 1, she won ten major titles. By winning the 2010 Australian Open mixed doubles title, Black became the third woman in the Open Era to complete the career Grand Slam in mixed doubles. Having also won one singles title on the WTA Tour, Black peaked at world No. 31 in the singles rankings in March 1999.
Latisha Chan, formerly known by her Chinese name Chan Yung-jan, is a Taiwanese professional tennis player who is a former world No. 1 in doubles. She has won 33 career titles in doubles, including a Grand Slam title at the 2017 US Open alongside Martina Hingis, as well as nine at WTA 1000-level. Chan also finished runner-up at three other Grand Slam events, the 2007 and 2015 Australian Open, and the 2007 US Open. In mixed doubles, she has won three Grand Slam titles: the 2018 French Open, 2019 French Open, and 2019 Wimbledon Championships, all with Ivan Dodig. Highlights of her singles career include reaching the semifinals at the 2006 Japan Open and the final at the Bangkok Open in 2007. She reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 50 on 11 June 2007, and became world No. 1 in doubles on 23 October 2017, the second Taiwanese player to do so, after Hsieh Su-wei. She again topped the doubles rankings on 13 August 2018, and has spent a total of 34 weeks as world No. 1.
Jaidip Mukerjea is a retired professional tennis player from India.
Premjit Lall was an Indian professional tennis player from Kolkata, who was active during the 1960s and 70s.
Lyudmyla Viktorivna Kichenok is a Ukrainian professional tennis player. With Mate Pavić, she won the 2023 Wimbledon Championships in mixed doubles. On 20 March 2023, she reached a career-high of world No. 7 in the WTA doubles rankings. Kichenok has won ten doubles titles on the WTA Tour, including four with her twin sister, Nadiia. On 21 July 2014, she reached a her career-high singles rankings of No. 156.
Ankita Ravinderkrishan Raina is an Indian professional tennis player. Since 2018, she has regularly been the Indian number one in both singles and doubles.
This page covers all the important events in the sport of tennis in 2012. Primarily, it provides the results of notable tournaments throughout the year on both the ATP and WTA Tours, the Davis Cup, and the Fed Cup.
Leander Adrian Paes is an Indian former professional tennis player. He is regarded as one of the greatest doubles tennis players of all-time and holds the record for the most doubles wins in the Davis Cup. Paes won eight men's doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. He made a total of 34 Grand Slam finals across men's and mixed doubles in his career which is the joint 2nd highest of all-time among men. He holds a career Grand Slam in men's doubles and mixed doubles making him one of only three men in the Open era to achieve this distinction and won the rare men's/mixed double at the 1999 Wimbledon Championships. Paes, together with Mahesh Bhupathi, were the first pair in Open era history to reach the men's doubles finals of all 4 Grand Slams in the same calendar year (1999).
This page covers all the important events in the sport of tennis in 2013. Primarily, it provides the results of notable tournaments throughout the year on both the ATP and WTA Tours, the Davis Cup, and the Fed Cup.
Yang Zhaoxuan is an inactive Chinese tennis player. She reached her best WTA doubles ranking of world No. 9 on 30 January 2023.
Ramanathan Ramkumar is an Indian professional tennis player. He has been ranked as high as No. 111 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which he achieved in July 2018, and in doubles at No. 58, achieved in August 2022. He has represented India in the Davis Cup. In 2018, he became the first Indian player to reach an ATP Tour singles final since Somdev Devvarman in 2011.
Saketh Myneni is an Indian professional tennis player. He has a career-high doubles ranking of No. 74 achieved on 16 January 2023. He was conferred with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2017 and represents India in the Davis Cup. He won a gold medal in Mixed doubles and a silver medal in the men's doubles event at the Incheon Asian Games 2014. He has won 10 ITF and 2 ATP Challenger singles titles. Also, 18 ITF and 14 ATP Challenger doubles titles.
Sumit Nagal is an Indian professional tennis player. He is currently the No. 1 ranked Indian player with a career-high singles ranking of world No. 68 achieved on 15 July 2024. Since 2018, has been a member of India's national Davis Cup squad. He won the 2015 Wimbledon boys' doubles title with Vietnamese Lý Hoàng Nam, becoming the sixth Indian player to win a junior Grand Slam title.
Claire Liu is an American professional tennis player. On 30 January 2023, she reached her career-high singles ranking of world No. 52 by the WTA.
Desirae Marie Krawczyk is an American professional tennis player who specializes in doubles.
The 2020 ATP Tour was the global elite men's professional tennis circuit organised by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for the 2020 tennis season. The 2020 ATP Tour calendar was composed of the Grand Slam tournaments, the ATP Finals, the ATP Masters 1000, the ATP Cup, the ATP 500 series, the ATP 250 series, and the Davis Cup. Also included in the 2020 calendar were the tennis events at the Next Generation ATP Finals, and the Laver Cup, neither of which distributed ranking points. Several tournaments were suspended or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. On 17 June 2020, ATP issued the revised calendar for Tour resumption.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: date and year (link)