By Winning Wimbledon is the ultimate achievement in tennis. It’s a tournament that defines careers.- Jimmy Connors
It was a warm afternoon in London in 1973. A shy and meticulous Indian tennis player had just entered the iconic centre court at Wimbledon. It was the fourth round of the competition, and the Indian player was facing his toughest test to date against the reigning and defending champion, Stan Smith. Initially, none gave him even a chance to be competitive in the match, but against all odds, the Indian tennis player, Vijay Amritraj, fought his way till the very end and won two sets against the then world champion but ended up losing the match, which had five sets. This etched his name in the history books and became a symbol of the growing popularity of tennis in India.
The First Appearance
Founded in 1877, Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. However, India didn’t make its debut until 1908. The first Indian to compete in the prestigious tournament was Sardar Nihal Singh, but his appearance was short-lived as he was eliminated in the first rounds of the tournament. Nonetheless, Nihal marked the beginning of something incredible and helped set the stage for future athletes.
The First Win
After a start at Wimbledon in 1908 by Nihal Singh, the first match win for India came 39 years later, in 1947. Sumant Misra won the first-round match in the Gentlemen’s Singles event. This marked the first triumph for Indian tennis players and the nation as a whole. This win wasn’t just a random one; it was a statement that made India’s intention clear for its future in the sport. This was even more significant because India was about to gain independence after 200 years of oppressive rule by the British Empire.
India’s First Tennis Star
After its independence in 1947, India began investing in its athletes, which led to the development of another Indian tennis player, Ramanathan Krishnan. He made his Wimbledon debut in the early 1950s. However, it wasn’t until 1954 that India marked its proper arrival at Wimbledon after Krishnan won the 1954 boy’s singles title at the tournament. In doing so, Krishnan became the first Indian ever to win a title at Wimbledon, etching his name in history with big and block letters.
Krishnan’s elegant playing style, marked by his deft touch, tactical brilliance and occasional aggression, laid the foundation of his success. He also made it to the semi-finals of the Gentlemen’s Singles in the 1960 and 1961 events, making him the only Indian tennis player to achieve this feat, even to this day. His title win in 1954 and back-to-back appearances in the semi-finals made him a revered figure in India and worldwide.
The Era of Indian Dominance
After Ramanathan Krishnan’s exceptional performance in the tournament, new names emerged, like Vijay Amritraj, whom we mentioned earlier. He also played exceptional tennis during his career, but the best he could do was reach the quarterfinals. More players came after him, but Indian dominance started with Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati. The late 1990s and early 2000s marked perhaps the greatest era of men’s tennis in India. Known as the “Indian Express,” Leander and Mahesh were the epitome of Indian tennis players. They became the first Indian pair to win a Wimbledon Doubles title. This was part of a historic run that saw the pair reach the finals of all four grand slam titles in tennis, making them one of the best pairings to ever compete in the history of the sport.
Moreover, Leander Paes also enjoyed significant success in mixed doubles at Wimbledon, having won 1999, 2003, and 2010 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles titles with Lisa Raymond, Martina Navratilova and Cara Black, respectively. This cemented his name as one of the best tennis players to compete at Wimbledon.
A New Dawn for Indian Women
Unlike many sports, India has had the privilege of watching its athletes of both genders stand at the top. When talking about Indian tennis players, one name cannot be forgotten: Sania Mirza. She is one of India’s most influential sports figures, irrespective of gender. Making her Wimbledon debut in 2003, Sania made it clear from the get-go that she was a force to be reckoned with. Initially, she gained notoriety for her performances in the Singles event, but she enjoyed the most success in doubles events.
In 2015, Sania Mirza became the first Indian woman player to win a Wimbledon title. She won it in style with her Swiss partner, Martina Hingis. This marked a pivotal moment in the Indian sports scene, especially for women. This is evident by a quote from Sania Mirza, where she said, “When I used to say I wanted to play at Wimbledon, they used to laugh in my face and say, ‘What are you talking about? You’re from Hyderabad, and you’re supposed to… cook.’ That’s one of the notions that people have on this side of the world—it is our ‘culture’, you know, to say what a woman can or cannot do.” However, after her monumental win, no one ever questioned or doubted her will to become a world champion. Mirza also won a mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 2015 with Brazilian tennis player Bruno Soares.
The Current Scenario
India has come a long way from being a former colony to one of the most successful sporting countries in the world. Due to the hard work of Indian tennis legends like Vijay, Leander, Mahesh, and Sania, India is still producing good tennis players, and no one dares to laugh at the idea of an Indian becoming a Wimbledon champion anymore.
