Tennis in India
| Tennis in India | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | India |
| Governing body | All India Tennis Association |
| National team | [[India national team|India]] |
Tennis enjoys a considerable following in India, although it is limited to urban areas but still it is counted among the most popular sports in India.[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 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]
History
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 (Now in Pakistan) (1885); 'Bengal Lawn Tennis Championship' at Calcutta (now Kolkata) (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]
Grand Slam Finals
In 1997 India won their first Grand Slam title at the French open, in the Mixed Doubles. Since then India have continued to win titles in the Mixed doubles as well as the Men's Doubles.
Mixed Doubles
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Players | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1997 | French Open | Clay |  Mahesh Bhupathi Rika Hiraki | Patrick Galbraith Lisa Raymond | 6–4, 6–1 |
| Runner-up | 1998 | Wimbledon | Grass | Mahesh Bhupathi Mirjana Lučić | Serena Williams Max Mirnyi | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Winner | 1999 | US Open | Hard | Mahesh Bhupathi Ai Sugiyama | Donald Johnson Kimberly Po | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Winner | 1999 | Wimbledon | Grass | Leander Paes Lisa Raymond | Anna Kournikova Jonas Björkman | 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 |
| Runner-up | 2001 | US Open | Hard | Leander Paes Lisa Raymond | Rennae Stubbs Todd Woodbridge | 6–4, 5–7, [11–9] |
| Winner | 2002 | Wimbledon | Grass | Mahesh Bhupathi Elena Likhovtseva | Daniela Hantuchová Kevin Ullyett | 6–2, 7–5 |
| Winner | 2003 | Australian Open | Hard | Leander Paes Martina Navrátilová | Eleni Daniilidou Todd Woodbridge | 6–4, 7–5 |
| Runner-up | 2003 | French Open | Clay | Mahesh Bhupathi Elena Likhovtseva | Lisa Raymond Mike Bryan | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Winner | 2003 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | Leander Paes Martina Navrátilová | Anastassia Rodionova Andy Ram | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Runner-up | 2004 | Australian Open | Hard | Leander Paes Martina Navrátilová | Elena Bovina Nenad Zimonjić | 6–1, 7–6 |
| Runner-up | 2005 | French Open | Clay | Leander Paes Martina Navrátilová | Daniela Hantuchová Fabrice Santoro | 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| Winner | 2005 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | Mahesh Bhupathi Mary Pierce | Paul Hanley Tatiana Perebiynis | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Winner | 2005 | US Open (2) | Hard | Mahesh Bhupathi Daniela Hantuchová | Katarina Srebotnik Nenad Zimonjić | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Winner | 2006 | Australian Open | Hard | Mahesh Bhupathi Martina Hingis | Elena Likhovtseva Daniel Nestor | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Runner-up | 2007 | US Open | Hard | Leander Paes Meghann Shaughnessy | Victoria Azarenka Max Mirnyi | 6–4, 7–6(8–6) |
| Runner-up | 2008 | Australian Open | Hard | Mahesh Bhupathi Sania Mirza | Sun Tiantian Nenad Zimonjić | 6–7(4–7), 4–6 |
| Winner | 2008 | US Open | Hard | Leander Paes Cara Black | Liezel Huber Jamie Murray | 7–6, 6–4 |
| Winner | 2009 | Australian Open (2) | Hard | Mahesh Bhupathi Sania Mirza | Nathalie Dechy Andy Ram | 6–3, 6–1 |
| Runner-up | 2009 | Wimbledon | Grass | Leander Paes Cara Black | Anna-Lena Grönefeld Mark Knowles | 7–5, 6–3 |
| Runner-up | 2009 | US Open | Hard | Leander Paes Cara Black | Carly Gullickson Travis Parrot | 6–2, 6–4 |
| Winner | 2010 | Australian Open (2) | Hard | Leander Paes Cara Black | Ekaterina Makarova Jaroslav Levinský | 7–5, 6–3 |
| Winner | 2010 | Wimbledon (3) | Grass | Leander Paes Cara Black | Lisa Raymond Wesley Moodie | 6–4, 7–6 |
| Runner-up | 2011 | Wimbledon | Grass | Mahesh Bhupathi Elena Vesnina | Iveta Benešová Jürgen Melzer | 3–6, 2–6 |
| Runner-up | 2012 | Australian Open | Hard | Leander Paes Elena Vesnina | Bethanie Mattek-Sands Horia Tecău | 3–6, 7–5, [3–10] |
| Winner | 2012 | French Open (2) | Clay | Mahesh Bhupathi Sania Mirza | Klaudia Jans-Ignacik Santiago González |
7–6(7–3), 6–1 |
| Runner-up | 2012 | Wimbledon | Grass | Leander Paes Elena Vesnina | Lisa Raymond Mike Bryan | 3–6, 7–5, 4–6 |
| Runner-up | 2014 | Australian Open | Hard | Horia Tecău Sania Mirza | Kristina Mladenovic Daniel Nestor | 3-6, 2-6 |
References
- ↑ Robertson, Max (1974). The encyclopedia of tennis. London: Allen and Unwin. p. 392. ISBN 0-04-796042-6.
- ↑ "Tennis in India". Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- ↑ "National Associations and their Offices". Asian Tennis Federation. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- ↑ "Champions". Davis Cup (official website). Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- ↑ "AITA History". All India Tennis Association. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- ↑ Tilden, William Tatem and Fletcher, John (2004). The Art of Lawn Tennis. U.S.: Kessinger Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 1-4191-5265-3.
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