"Truly my honor to play against you, enjoyed lot more when I played with you"- Martina Navratilova heaps praise on former doubles partner Leander Paes
Martina Navratilova heaped praise on former mixed doubles partner Leander Paes during his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Along with Paes, Vijay Amritraj and Richard Evans were inducted into the exclusive group on July 20 in Newport.
During a memorable evening at the famous horseshoe court in Newport, 70-year-old Amritraj and 51-year-old Paes created history as they became the first Indians, and Asians, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Several former World No. 1s, including Chris Evert, Andre Agassi, and Martina Navratilova, attended the event. Paes received praise during the occasion from his former mixed doubles partner Navratilova as she said it had been her honor to play with and against him.
“He was an artist on the court, an amazing athlete, a virtuoso... He wielded the tennis racquet like an orchestra conductor wields the baton," Navratilova said about Paes on stage.
"Leander, it was truly my honor to play against you. I enjoyed it a lot more when I played with you. You have done your family proud, you have done our sport proud and most of all, you have done India proud.”
Martina Navratilova and Leander Paes won two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles
![Martina Navratilova and Leander Paes with the 2003 Australian Open trophy [GETTY]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/07f97-17215472559002-1920.jpg?w=500)
Martina Navratilova won 10 mixed doubles Grand Slam titles with multiple partners. Interestingly, in 2015, before a mixed doubles exhibition match in India, she revealed her favorite mixed doubles partner was Leander Paes. The pair have won two Grand Slam titles together.
In 2003, Navratilova, who turned 46 that year, participated in multiple Grand Slam events along with Paes. They participated in the Australian Open as wildcards and won the title without losing a set. They defeated another wildcard pair of Eleni Daniilidou and Todd Woodbridge in the final.
The American and Indian pair also took part in the French Open as the seventh seeds. However, they could not cross the second round stage at the Paris Slam.
At Wimbledon later that year, the fifth-seed pair went on to win their second title together by defeating the pair of Andy Ram and Anastasia Rodionova in the final.
Moreover, they continued their partnership in the coming years and achieved two runner-up finishes, at the 2004 Australian Open and the 2005 French Open.