Achievements on court

lLed India to the Davis Cup finals in 1974 and 1987

lReached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 1973 and 1981, the US Open in 1973 and1974

lFive-time president of the ATP Tour Players Council

lOnly Asian to receive the Baron Pierre de Coubertin Award

lPadma Shree award from the Indian government

Words of praise

lI was very young when Vijay Amritraj was at his peak. In 1974, when he came to Pune to play with Anand Amritraj against Russia for the Davis Cup, I was a ball boy for the tie. He used to keep a small hand-towel tucked and that became such a rage with the young boys at the club. After he left, every kid there between 10-15 years had these small towels with them. On the whole, Vijay is a suave man. A thorough entleman who says and does the right things at the right time.

Nandan Bal, former national champion and Davis Cup coach

lHe?s a great brand ambassador for Chennai and Tamil Nadu. In January, we organised the largest tennis event in South-East Asia and he helped to ensure that it stayed in Tamil Nadu. He?s always in touch by cellphone or by e-mail and we keep him in the loop on everything we do.

M.P. Shankar, Honorary Secretary, Tamil Nadu Tennis Association