Indian tennis ace Leander Paes etched his name in the record books by becoming the first Indian to win a Grand Slam mixed doubles title, partnering with Lisa Raymond of the USA to clinch the 1999 US Open crown.
The dynamic duo triumphed over the high-profile team of Anna Kournikova (Russia) and Jonas Björkman (Sweden) in a thrilling final, with a scoreline of 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. This win marked a major milestone for Indian tennis on the global stage.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to Indian sport, Paes was conferred the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors, in 2001.
A trailblazer in Indian tennis, Paes’ 1999 win was just the beginning of a storied Grand Slam career that inspired a generation.
