February 18, 2026 06:59 pm (IST)
Leander Paes turns 43
Kolkata, Jun 17 (IBNS): The poster child of Indian tennis, Leander Paes, turned a year older as the athlete celebrated his 43rd birthday on Friday.
Born in 1973 in Kolkata (then Calcutta) to Vece and Jennifer Paes, Leander grew up in a sporting household and took up tennis early in his career.
He shot to fame by winning the Wimbledon Junior Title in 1990 and was eventually the number one ranked player in the junior tennis circuit.
Though never a great Singles player in the pro arena, Paes is regarded as one of the finest Mixed and Mixed Doubles player to have played the sport.
He has won 18 Grandslams, 10 in Mixed Doubles and eight in Doubles, with his recent win in the French Open this year.
Paes has also partnered some great players. His partnership With Martina Navratilova, fellow countryman Mahesh Bhupathi and Zimbabwean Cara Black is well known.
Off late, Paes has formed a stable partnership with Martina Hingis. the Indo-Swiss pair have won four titles together.
He is also an Olympic medal winner, winning the bronze medal in 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
At 43, the tennis ace will me making a record seventh seventh Olympics appearance.
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