Country (sports) | India |
---|---|
Born |
Madras, India |
14 December 1953
Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
Turned pro | 1970 |
Retired | 1993 |
Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Prize money | $1,331,913 |
Singles | |
Career record | 390–302 |
Career titles | 16 |
Highest ranking | No. 16 (7 July 1980) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
Australian Open | 2R (1984) |
French Open | 3R (1974) |
Wimbledon | QF (1973, 1981) |
US Open | QF (1973, 1974) |
Other tournaments | |
WCT Finals | SF (1982) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 264–218 |
Career titles | 13 |
Highest ranking | No. 23 (24 March 1980) |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
Wimbledon | SF (1976) |
US Open | QF (1973, 1976) |
Team competitions | |
Davis Cup | F (1974, 1987) |
Vijay Amritraj (born 14 December 1953) is a former tennis player from India, sports commentator and actor. He was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honor in 1983.
Vijay was born in Chennai, India to Maggie Dhairyam and Robert Amritraj. He has two brothers, Anand Amritraj and Ashok Amritraj, who were also international tennis players. He did schooling in Chennai and later graduated from Loyola College, Chennai.
After playing his first grand prix event in 1970, Amritraj achieved his first significant success in singles in 1973 when he reached the quarterfinals at two Grand Slam events. At Wimbledon, he lost in five sets to the eventual champion Jan Kodeš and later that summer at the US Open, lost to Ken Rosewall after having beaten Rod Laver two rounds earlier.
Amritraj beat Björn Borg in the second round in Forest Hills Open in 1974 before losing to Rosewall in quarterfinals. In 1979, he lost in the 2nd round of Wimbledon to defending champion Borg after being up two sets to one and leading 4–1 in the fourth set. He reached his career high ranking in singles of World No. 16 in July 1980. In 1981, he reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon before losing in five sets to Jimmy Connors after being up 2-0. He beat John McEnroe in the first round of Cincinnati Masters in 1984. Overall, he had five career wins over Jimmy Connors in their 11 matches.