Mahesh Bhupathi facts for kids
Bhupathi at the 2009 US Open
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| Full name | Mahesh Shrinivas Bhupathi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country (sports) |  India |
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| Born | 7 June 1974 Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
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| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turned pro | 1995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Ole Miss | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prize money | US$6,665,907 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Singles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career record | 10–28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career titles | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | No. 217 (2 February 1998) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Slam singles results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | Q2 (1998) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| French Open | Q3 (1996, 1999) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wimbledon | 1R (1997, 1998, 2000) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| US Open | 1R (1995) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Doubles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career record | 687–364 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career titles | 52 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (26 April 1999) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Slam doubles results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | F (1999, 2009, 2011) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| French Open | W (1999, 2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wimbledon | W (1999) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| US Open | W (2002) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other doubles tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tour Finals | F (1997, 1999, 2000, 2010, 2012) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic Games | SF – 4th (2004) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed doubles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career record | 115–53 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career titles | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | W (2006, 2009) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| French Open | W (1997, 2012) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wimbledon | W (2002, 2005) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| US Open | W (1999, 2005) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team competitions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Davis Cup | QF (1996) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Mahesh Shrinivas Bhupathi (born on June 7, 1974) is a famous Indian tennis player who used to be the world's number one in doubles. He made history in 1997 by becoming the first Indian to win a major tennis tournament, known as a Grand Slam.
Mahesh Bhupathi is also one of only eight male tennis players to have won a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles. This means he won all four major mixed doubles titles during his career. He also started the International Premier Tennis League, a special tennis league. After retiring from playing, he became India's Davis Cup captain in 2017.
Contents
Mahesh Bhupathi's Tennis Journey
Early Career and Rise to Number One (1995–2006)
Mahesh Bhupathi was known as one of the best doubles players in the 1990s and 2000s. A big part of his success came from his partnership with fellow Indian player Leander Paes. In 1999, they won three major doubles titles together: the French Open and Wimbledon. They were the first doubles team in the modern era to reach the finals of all four Grand Slams in one year. On April 26, 1999, they became the world's number one doubles team.
Bhupathi also won the US Open mixed doubles title in 1999 with Ai Sugiyama from Japan. In 2006, he teamed up with Martina Hingis to win the Australian Open mixed doubles. This win was very special because it meant he had completed his career Grand Slam in mixed doubles, winning all four major mixed doubles titles.
Continuing Success (2007–2008)
In 2007, Bhupathi continued to achieve great things. He reached the quarterfinals of the 2007 Australian Open in men's doubles with Radek Štěpánek. They also made it to the semifinals of the 2007 French Open. Later that year, Bhupathi won the 2007 Canada Masters with Pavel Vízner, beating top-ranked players Bob and Mike Bryan. He also won a tournament in New Haven with Nenad Zimonjić.
More Grand Slam Wins (2009–2012)
In 2009, Bhupathi and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza won the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open. They had been runners-up the year before, so this win was a great comeback for them. This victory brought Bhupathi's mixed doubles Grand Slam titles to seven.
He later reunited with Max Mirnyi, his partner from the 2002 US Open win. In 2011, Bhupathi and Leander Paes played together again at the 2011 Australian Open. They reached the final but lost to the Bryan brothers. On June 7, 2012, Bhupathi and Sania Mirza won the French Open mixed doubles title. In November 2012, Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna won the Paris Masters cup.
Later Career (2013)
In 2013, Bhupathi played with different partners. He won a tournament in Dubai with Michaël Llodra in March. He later rejoined Rohan Bopanna for other tournaments.
How Mahesh Bhupathi Plays
Mahesh Bhupathi is famous for his very strong serve in tennis. Other top players, like Rafael Nadal, have said that his powerful backhand makes him excellent for playing on the "Ad Court" (the left side of the court for a right-handed player). Roger Federer has even called him one of the best doubles players ever. During matches, he often talks about strategies with his partner between serves and uses hand signals to communicate.
Big Tournament Finals
Mahesh Bhupathi played in many important finals throughout his career.
Men's Doubles Grand Slam Finals
Bhupathi reached 10 Grand Slam men's doubles finals, winning 4 of them:
- 1999 French Open with Leander Paes
- 1999 Wimbledon with Leander Paes
- 2001 French Open with Leander Paes
- 2002 US Open with Max Mirnyi
He was also a runner-up in 6 Grand Slam men's doubles finals, including three times at the Australian Open (1999, 2009, 2011).
Mixed Doubles Grand Slam Finals
Bhupathi played in 12 Grand Slam mixed doubles finals, winning 8 of them. By winning the 2006 Australian Open, he completed a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles. His wins include:
- 1997 French Open with Rika Hiraki
- 1999 US Open with Ai Sugiyama
- 2002 Wimbledon with Elena Likhovtseva
- 2005 Wimbledon with Mary Pierce
- 2005 US Open with Daniela Hantuchová
- 2006 Australian Open with Martina Hingis
- 2009 Australian Open with Sania Mirza
- 2012 French Open with Sania Mirza
He was a runner-up in 4 mixed doubles Grand Slam finals.
Olympic Games Performance
Bhupathi represented India at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He and Leander Paes reached the semifinals in men's doubles, finishing in fourth place.
Playing for India: Davis Cup and Asian Games
Mahesh Bhupathi proudly represented India many times in the Davis Cup and other international events like the Asian Games. He played 55 matches for India in the Davis Cup between 1995 and 2011, winning 35 of them. Most of his wins (27) were in doubles matches.
In 2006, he won the doubles championship at the Asian Games in Doha with Leander Paes.
About Mahesh Bhupathi's Life
In 2001, Mahesh Bhupathi received the Padma Shri, which is one of India's highest civilian awards. He studied at the University of Mississippi in the United States. In 2002, he started his own company, Globosport India, which helps manage sports and entertainment careers for athletes like Sania Mirza.
Mahesh Bhupathi married model Shvetha Jaishankar in 2002. They later divorced in 2009. He then married Miss Universe 2000 Lara Dutta in 2011. Their daughter, Saira, was born on January 20, 2012. In 2010, the couple also started a film production company called Big Daddy Productions.
In 2014, Mahesh Bhupathi launched an Indian sports brand called ZEVEN. This company supports many athletes, including Ravindra Jadeja, Rohan Bopanna, Shikhar Dhawan, and Mary Kom.
Tennis Partnerships
Mahesh Bhupathi had many partners throughout his career in both men's doubles and mixed doubles. His most famous partnership was with Leander Paes.
Partnership with Leander Paes
Bhupathi and Leander Paes were a very successful doubles team. They played together in the men's doubles event at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, reaching the quarterfinals.
They decided to play together again at the 2011 Australian Open, after being separated for nine years. They made it to the finals but lost to the American twins, Bob and Mike Bryan. Leander Paes mentioned that getting their friendship back was the best part of reuniting.
Together, Bhupathi and Paes had an amazing record of 303 wins and 103 losses. They also hold the Davis Cup record for the longest winning streak in doubles, with 23 straight wins.
For the London Olympics in 2012, there was some discussion about who Paes and Bhupathi would partner with. In the end, two Indian teams were sent: Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna, and Leander Paes with Vishnu Vardhan. Bhupathi and Bopanna lost in the second round of the Olympics.
Sports Management and Business
Beyond playing, Bhupathi has worked to improve tennis facilities in India. His company, Globosport, has been important in helping many Indian athletes, including Sania Mirza, with their careers.
International Premier Tennis League
On May 25, 2013, Mahesh Bhupathi announced the creation of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL). This league was planned to start in November 2014 with six teams in Asia. Bhupathi said the league was inspired by the successful Indian Premier League in cricket. The idea was to have a league driven by famous tennis stars.
Awards and Recognition
- Padma Shri, 2001 (a high civilian award in India)
- Sports people for Change Karmaveer Puraskaar, 2007
- Davis Cup Commitment Award
- Kempegowda Award by Government of Karnataka - 2025
See also
In Spanish: Mahesh Bhupathi para niños
- Forca Kochi FC
