Indian tennis icon Leander Paes has been competing in the men’s tour for decades now. In fact, 2021 will be his 30th professional season in the circuit. The 47-year-old began his career even before the likes of Roger Federer, and he’s still got immense energy left in the tank to go out and give it his all!
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To put things in a different perspective, Leander Paes turned pro in 1991 after clinching a couple of Grand Slams in the junior category. He has played against several legends in his professional career and continues to participate at the tender age of 47!
“The tennis ball does not know the age of a human being hitting the ball,” said Paes who has achieved a Career Slam in both the doubles and mixed doubles category. “It understands power, spin. It’s what we do that matters,” he added.
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Paes did not enjoy 2020 particularly as the pandemic imposed several restrictions on the sport. He made the doubles finals of the Bengaluru Tennis Open in February, but his season was cut short as the Indian did not participate after the sport’s hiatus.
But the inspiring athlete has now confirmed his participation in the 2021 season which means that he’ll complete 30 years of playing in the ATP tour. This is an incredible achievement and it would put him right up on the list of the oldest players currently active in the sport.
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Tennis legend Leander Paes working hard to extend Olympic Record in 2021
Playing for three decades is no ordinary task. Paes is a tremendous athlete and he’s amassed 18 Majors in his career through sheer hardwork. The 47-year-old is eying yet another record at the Tokyo Olympics which is set to begin in July 2021.
Paes has been to the Olympic games seven consecutive times which is already a record. But the 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist mentioned that he is putting in the effort to make it eight straight next year.
“I already have the record at seven and I’ve the motivation if I can push that up to eight Olympics, my belief is that India will forever stay in the history books as the most number of Olympics played in tennis,” Paes mentioned.
Paes has set plenty of records and he’s looking to add to it in 2021. His words are indeed inspiring and one would hope nothing, but for him to win a title in 2021 as it might be his final season on the tour.
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