Australian Open 2026 is breaking attendance records as fans and tennis lovers come through the turnstiles despite the severe heat being experienced in Melbourne. It is often referred to as the ‘Happy Slam’ and Indian tennis legend Leander Paes has no shortage of happy memories from his playing days in the Victorian sporting capital.
“It’s called the Happy Slam for a reason. Australian fans are very sports-loving and generally very friendly. It was always a pleasure playing at the Australian Open,” Paes told The Indian Express.
The winner of 18 Grand Slam titles in men’s and mixed doubles and four at the year-end ATP Tour finals as well as an Olympic medal in singles, Paes is considered one of the greatest players in his discipline in the history of the sport. He has experienced great highs on some of the revered courts in the game, and has partnered some of the greats of the game, including compatriots Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza.
Four of his Grand Slam titles – one in men’s doubles and three in mixed – came in Melbourne. Also, it was in Melbourne that he first announced his arrival on the big stage. “I reached the final of the Australian Open junior competition in 1990 (lost to German Dirk Drier), before winning the Wimbledon and US Open juniors the next year and becoming the No.1 junior in the world,” Paes recalled on the sidelines of an Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) event where he announced a grassroots mentorship programme for young golfers.
He was joined in the initiative by Jeev Milkha Singh, Shiv Kapur, Jyoti Randhawa, Gaurav Ghei, SSP Chawrasia and Gaganjeet Bhullar.
Drier, meanwhile, failed to kick on from his Melbourne success, only winning one main draw match at Grand Slams in three appearances, and having a highest singles world ranking of 158.
“There are so many memories from the Australian Open. There is no one match that I can single out,” the 52-year-old said. “But the standout will be partnering some of the greatest players in the game on the show court named after one of my idols – the Rod Laver Arena.”
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In step with the greats
Indeed, over his career spanning three decades – in which he became the only tennis player to compete in seven Olympic Games, win Grand Slam titles in three different decades, and have the most number of doubles wins in Davis Cup history – Paes has partnered some of the legends of the game.
“Playing alongside the likes of Martina Navratilova and Martina Hingis has been a huge privilege. It would have been unthinkable for a young boy who used to play in the streets of Calcutta.”
His three Australian Open mixed doubles titles came with Navratilova (2003), Cara Black (2010) and Hingis (2015). In fact, two of his Majors have come alongside Navratilova and four with Hingis.
One of Paes’s happiest memories of Melbourne involves Czech Radek Stepanek. “It was at the Australian Open in 2012 that I completed my career Grand Slam in men’s doubles, partnering Stepanek, as we beat the Bryan Brothers Mike and Bob, no less,” he said.
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“In fact, it was one of the records that I wanted to tick off. I then completed the career Grand Slam in mixed doubles by winning the 2016 French Open with Hingis.” They beat Sania and Croat Ivan Dodig in the final.
Coming to the ongoing tournament, Paes is hoping for the clock to turn back and a member of the erstwhile Golden Generation to triumph at his favourite hunting ground. “Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have got to be the favourites. But I really hope that Novak Djokovic wins. I’ll be very happy if that happens.”
The Serb made the semifinals of all four Majors last year, but such has been the dominance of the two youngsters that this achievement is often overlooked. “He (Djokovic) definitely has a chance. And don’t forget, he is 38 now while Sinner is 24 and Alcaraz 22,” Paes points out.
The Serb, who is one short of winning his 400th Grand Slam singles match, has said that he hopes to defend his gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
