Julia Christine Botin

Article (news)

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

Indian tennis great Leander Paes has been named Player Ambassador of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF), the regional governing body confirmed on Tuesday.The appointment was announced at an event held during Wimbledon in London.“Through the Asian Tennis Federation, [we get to] empower the youth all across the world, get them to play sport, [improve] mental health, physical health, emotional health,” Paes explained.“With tennis, we are all united,” he said.Paes’ connection to the ATF started long before he was selected as an ambassador.“I myself was selected in the Asian Tennis Federation Junior program. I was 14 and a half years old when I first played in the Australian Open in 1989,” he recalled.ATF president Yuriy Polskiy joined senior federation officials, players, and other figures from the international tennis world for the occasion.“I would like to show my gratitude to Yuriy, my new president,” Paes said. “To work with you, to work under you, to work beside you and carry out all the dreams that the Asian Tennis Federation has to empower kids.”Paes is the only Indian tennis player to have won an Olympic medal. He has competed in seven Olympic games.He also was world No. 1 with 18 Grand Slam titles (eight men’s doubles, 10 mixed doubles).In 2015, he won a mixed doubles Wimbledon title which made him the second man after Rod Laver to win Wimbledon titles in three different decades. He then repeated the feat by winning a French Open title in three different decades with his mixed doubles title in 2016.He has also tallied 46 Davis Cup wins as a former captain.In his new role, he is expected to help grow the sport across Asia, guide up-and-coming players, back grassroots initiatives, and serve as the federation’s representative at major international tournaments.

Leander Paes has been named Player Ambassador of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF), the regional governing body confirmed on Tuesday.

Leander Paes has been named Player Ambassador of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF), the regional governing body confirmed on Tuesday.

Leander Paes named ATF player ambassador

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Leander Paes named ATF player ambassador

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 24, 2026 04:38 PM PHT

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tennis

Leander Paes

Asian Tennis Federation

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