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Episode details

World Service,9 mins

Leander Paes: Reflections on a Hall of Fame tennis career

Not by the Playbook

Available for over a year

Indian tennis great Leander Paes reflects on his glittering career ahead of his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Paes gave up on his dreams of making it as a footballer with FC Barcelona, when a coach told him he would need to relinquish his Indian passport in favour of a European one, in order to progress in the sport. He also reflects on his early struggles in tennis and how he met Muhammad Ali at the 1996 Olympics after he won a bronze medal at the Games. Photo: Leander Paes of India plays a backhand in his Mixed Doubles match with Samantha Stosur of Australia against Kveta Peschke and Wesley Koolhof during day six of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Credit: Getty Images)

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