“I think it’s probably going to take another 10 years to produce a Grand Slam champion” – Leander Paes on Indian tennis

Legendary Leander Paes reckons it will take another 10 years to produce a Grand Slam champion from India. Rohan Bopanna last won the Australian Open 2024 with partner Matthew Ebden. 

Meanwhile, Leander Paes made a potent duo with Mahesh Bhupathi but since the duo’s retirement, not many Indian players have made it to the top echelons of the tennis world.

Sumit Nagal is still rising through the ranks but there is no denying the fact that he needs to improve a lot. Paes urged former tennis players to work at the grassroots level to get the best out of the young players.

“I think it’s probably going to take another 10 years to produce a Grand Slam champion. I think that the focus needs to be on the grassroots base level and then the feeder system coming up, then you churn out the numbers,” Leander Paes was quoted as saying by PTI.

Paes added that there is no lack of talent in the country but the young lads should be given the right stage to showcase their skills.

“I 100% believe we have tremendous talent in India, but I believe it’s people like myself along with the governance, along with the whole sporting fraternity, to reach out to that talent in rural areas in places where maybe those children are not as fortunate as you and I, to have the parents who gave us that platform to stand on,” Paes added.

“I think it’s a responsibility for us to reach out there and find that talent, test that talent and once you pick it, bring it into academies where you nurture the talent,” he said.

Paes added India has another 12 years to showcase their power at the 2036 Olympics. The former eight men’s doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam champion added it is up to athletes like him and the government federation to get the best out of the players.

“I humbly believe that people like myself and people in governance can make a big push to make India a powerhouse in sport and showcase ourselves not by just holding the Olympics, god willing we’ll get it, and we’ll have to work hard to get it, because the competition is fierce. “But also if and when we get it, to actually win lots of medals, that’s really the victory in my opinion,” Paes explained.