Indian tennis legend Leander Paes has been appointed as the Player Ambassador of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF). The announcement was made on the sidelines of the Wimbledon Championships in London, in the presence of ATF president Yuriy Polskiy and members of the international tennis community. In this role, Paes will promote tennis across Asia, mentor young players, and support grassroots development programmes.
About the Asian Tennis Federation
The Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) is the continental governing body for tennis in Asia, affiliated with the International Tennis Federation (ITF). It was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Hong Kong. The ATF has 45 member associations representing national tennis bodies from across Asia, including the All India Tennis Association (AITA).
The federation works to promote, develop, and raise the standard of tennis in Asia through a wide range of programmes covering junior and professional tournaments, coach and official education, high-performance initiatives, and grassroots development projects. Its current president is Yuriy Polskiy of Kazakhstan, who was elected in 2023. India holds significant influence within the ATF as one of only three Group A members (alongside China and Japan), each carrying three votes in the federation.
Leander Paes: A Decorated Career
Leander Paes is widely regarded as one of the finest doubles tennis players in the history of the sport. Over a professional career spanning more than three decades, he won 18 Grand Slam titles eight in men’s doubles and ten in mixed doubles. He is one of only three men in tennis history to complete a Career Grand Slam in both men’s doubles and mixed doubles.
Grand Slam Dominance
Paes won his first Grand Slam title at the 1999 French Open in men’s doubles with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi, becoming the first all-Indian pair to win a Grand Slam. The duo, famously known as the Indian Express, also won Wimbledon later that same year. Paes went on to win three French Open titles (1999, 2001, 2009), three US Open titles (2006, 2009, 2013), one Australian Open (2012), and one Wimbledon (1999) in men’s doubles.
In mixed doubles, he won 10 titles with various partners including Martina Navratilova, Cara Black, and Martina Hingis. His mixed doubles victory at the 2016 French Open with Hingis completed his career Grand Slam in the discipline. He also became only the second man after Rod Laver to win Wimbledon titles across three different decades.
Olympic Feat and Davis Cup Legacy
Paes won the bronze medal in men’s singles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, becoming the first Indian and the first Asian to win an Olympic medal in tennis. This was also India’s first individual Olympic medal in 44 years since KD Jadhav’s bronze in wrestling at the 1952 Helsinki Games. He went on to represent India at seven consecutive Olympic Games from 1992 to 2016, a world record for a tennis player.
In the Davis Cup, Paes holds the world record for most doubles wins with 46 victories. He was part of the Indian team from 1990 to 2021 and also served as team captain. His partnership with Bhupathi set a record of 24 consecutive Davis Cup doubles wins between 1997 and 2010.
Paes achieved the world No. 1 ranking in men’s doubles and won 55 ATP doubles titles in his career. He was honoured with the Arjuna Award (1990), the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (1996), the Padma Shri (2001), and the Padma Bhushan (2014). In July 2024, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the player category, becoming the first Indian and Asian man to receive the honour.
The Player Ambassador Role
As Player Ambassador, Paes will work closely with the ATF to promote tennis across the continent. His responsibilities include mentoring young players, supporting grassroots development programmes, and representing the federation at major international events. The role focuses on building pathways for young Asian talent through modernised junior tournament circuits, high-performance training initiatives, and athlete welfare programmes.
The ATF has been actively expanding opportunities for players across Asia through a strong calendar of junior, professional, and wheelchair tournaments, coach and official education programmes, and development projects aimed at strengthening national federations. Paes will play a central role in these efforts, bringing his decades of experience at the highest level of the sport.
Speaking on his appointment, Paes said he looked forward to giving back to the sport that has given him so much. He emphasised that Asia has incredible talent and potential, and expressed his hope to inspire young players to dream big and work hard. ATF president Polskiy described Paes as one of the greatest champions Asia has ever produced, adding that his achievements, professionalism, and commitment to the sport make him the ideal ambassador for Asian tennis.
Significance for Asian Tennis
The appointment of a player of Paes’ stature signals the ATF’s intent to leverage the expertise of legendary athletes to modernise its regional development systems. With his experience of competing at the highest level for over 30 years, Paes brings unparalleled insight into what it takes to succeed on the global stage. His presence is expected to inspire millions of aspiring tennis players across the continent.
For India, the appointment strengthens the country’s institutional influence within Asian tennis governance. India is already a key member of the ATF as a Group A member with maximum voting rights. Paes’ role as Player Ambassador further cements India’s position as a significant force in shaping the future of tennis in Asia. He has also been serving as the president of the Bengal Tennis Association, indicating his ongoing commitment to tennis administration in India.
The ATF believes this partnership will accelerate its mission of producing more world-class Asian players. With rising tennis talent from countries like Japan, China, Kazakhstan, and India, the continent has seen growing success on the international circuit in recent years. Paes’ mentorship could provide young players with the technical and psychological tools needed to compete at the Grand Slam and Olympic levels.
Key Takeaways
- Leander Paes was appointed as the Player Ambassador of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) in July 2026.
- The ATF was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Hong Kong, with 45 member associations across Asia.
- Paes won 18 Grand Slam titles (eight men’s doubles and ten mixed doubles) during his career.
- He won a bronze medal in men’s singles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, becoming the first Indian and first Asian to win an Olympic tennis medal.
- He holds the world record for most Davis Cup doubles wins (46) and represented India in seven consecutive Olympic Games.
- Paes was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2024, the first Indian and Asian man to be honoured in the player category.
