Vijay Amritraj

Vijay Amritraj (born 14 December 1953) is an Indian sports commentator, occasional actor and former tennis player from Madras.[2][3][4][5][6] He was awarded the Padma Shri, India's 4th highest civilian honour, in 1983.[7]

Vijay Amritraj partnering brother Anand at 2000 Wimbledon Championships

Vijay Amritraj
Country (sports) India
Born (1953-12-14) 14 December 1953
Madras, India
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Turned pro1970
Retired1993
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money$1,331,913
Singles
Career record399–308[1]
Career titles18
Highest rankingNo. 16 (7 July 1980)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open2R (1984)
French Open3R (1974)
WimbledonQF (1973, 1981)
US OpenQF (1973, 1974)
Other tournaments
WCT FinalsSF (1982)
Doubles
Career record264–218
Career titles14
Highest rankingNo. 23 (24 March 1980)
Grand Slam Doubles results
WimbledonSF (1976)
US OpenQF (1973, 1976)
Team competitions
Davis CupF (1974, 1987)

Early life

Vijay was born in Madras,[8] India to Maggie Dhairyam and Robert Amritraj.[9][10] He has two brothers, Anand Amritraj and Ashok Amritraj, who were also international tennis players.[11] He did his schooling from Don Bosco and graduated from Loyola College in Madras.

Career

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 the US Open in 1974 before losing to Rosewall in quarterfinals. In 1979, he lost in the second 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 eleven matches.

Amritraj was part of the India Davis Cup team that reached the finals in 1974 and 1987. Amritraj had a career singles win-loss record 384–296, winning 16 singles and 13 doubles titles.

Acting career

Amritraj also had a brief acting career. His most notable appearance is probably as the MI6 intelligence operative Vijay in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy.[12] He also appeared briefly in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) as a starship captain.

He was also a regular character in the NBC TV series The Last Precinct and the Yakov Smirnoff comedy What a Country, as well as a guest star on various television shows such as Hart to Hart. He has since gone on to become a sports commentator, has been a judge at the Miss Universe pageant and has developed a successful multimedia business. Amritraj is the host of a talk show named Dimensions with Vijay Amritraj telecast on CNN-IBN.

Personal life

Amritraj lives in California with wife Devaki, and sons Prakash Amritraj and Vikram.[13][14][15]

His son Prakash and nephew Stephen Amritraj are also professional tennis players. On 9 February 2001, Vijay was appointed a United Nations ambassador for peace. He has been raising awareness on the issues of drugs and HIV/AIDS and has raised funds to fight the spread of AIDS worldwide.[16] Vijay Amritraj founded The Vijay Amritraj Foundation in 2006.[17][18]

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1983OctopussyVijay
1985Nine Deaths of the NinjaRankin
1986Star Trek IV: The Voyage HomeStarship Captain Joel Randolph
2015Of God and KingsDuke Bora Swain

Career finals

Singles: 25 (18–7)
Legend
Grand Slam (0)
ATP Masters Series (0)
ATP Tour (12)
Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Jul 1973 Bretton Woods, U.S. Clay Jimmy Connors 7–5, 2–6, 7–5
Loss 1–1 Aug 1973 South Orange, U.S. Grass Colin Dibley 4–6, 7–6, 4–6
Win 2–1 Oct 1973 New Delhi, India Grass Mal Anderson 6–4, 5–7, 8–9, 6–3, 11–9
Loss 2–2 Mar 1974 Tempe, U.S. Hard Jimmy Connors 1–6, 2–6
Win 3–2 Apr 1974 Washington D.C., U.S. Carpet (i) Karl Meiler 6–4, 6–3
Win 4–2 Jun 1974 Beckenham, England Grass Tom Gorman 6–7, 6–2, 6–4
Win 5–2 Aug 1975 Columbus, U.S. Hard Bob Lutz 6–4, 7–5
Win 6–2 Nov 1975 Calcutta, India Clay Manuel Orantes 7–5, 6–3
Win 7–2 Mar 1976 Memphis, U.S. Carpet (i) Stan Smith 6–2, 0–6, 6–0
Win 8–2 Sep 1976 Newport, U.S. Grass Brian Teacher 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–1
Win 9–2 Jan 1977 Auckland, New Zealand Grass Tim Wilkison 7–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–2
Win 10–2 Nov 1977 Bombay, India Clay Terry Moor 7–6, 6–4
Win 11–2 Sep 1978 Mexico City, Mexico Clay Raúl Ramírez 6–4, 6–4
Loss 11–3 Oct 1978 Cologne, Germany Hard (i) Wojciech Fibak 2–6, 1–0 ret.
Win 12–3 Nov 1979 Bombay, India Clay Peter Elter 6–1, 7–5
Loss 12–4 Feb 1980 WCT Invitational, U.S. Carpet (i) Björn Borg 5–7, 1–6, 3–6
Loss 12–5 Mar 1980 Milan, Italy Carpet (i) John McEnroe 2–6, 4–6
Win 13–5 Jul 1980 Newport, U.S. Grass Andrew Pattison 6–1, 5–7, 6–3
Win 14–5 Nov 1980 Bangkok, Thailand Carpet (i) Brian Teacher 6–3, 7–5
Loss 14–6 Dec 1980 WCT Challenge Cup, Canada Carpet (i) John McEnroe 1–6, 6–2, 1–6
Loss 14–7 Aug 1983 Stowe, U.S. Hard John Fitzgerald 6–3, 2–6, 5–7
Win 15–7 May 1984 Spring, U.S. Hard (i) Leif Shiras 7–5, 4–6 7–6
Win 16–7 Jul 1984 Newport, U.S. Grass Tim Mayotte 3–6, 6–4, 6–4
Win 17–7 Jun 1986 Bristol, England Grass Henri Leconte 7–6, 1–6, 8–6
Win 18–7 Aug 1988 New Haven, U.S. Hard Zeeshan Ali 6–3, 6–1

Doubles: 29 (14–15)
Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 Oct 1973 New Delhi, India Anand Amritraj Jim McManus
Raúl Ramírez		 2–6, 4–6
Win 1–1 Nov 1974 Bombay, India Clay Anand Amritraj Dick Crealy
Onny Parun		 6–4, 7–6
Loss 1–2 Aug 1974 South Orange, U.S. Hard Anand Amritraj Brian Gottfried
Raúl Ramírez		 6–7, 7–6, 6–7
Win 2–2 Aug 1974 Columbus, U.S. Hard Anand Amritraj Tom Gorman
Bob Lutz
Loss 2–3 Feb 1975 Toronto, Canada Carpet (i) Anand Amritraj Dick Stockton
Erik van Dillen		 4–6, 5–7, 1–6
Loss 2–4 Mar 1975 Washington D.C., U.S. Carpet (i) Anand Amritraj Mike Estep
Russell Simpson		 6–75, 3–6
Win 3–4 Mar 1975 Atlanta, U.S. Carpet (i) Anand Amritraj Mark Cox
Cliff Drysdale		 6–3, 6–2
Loss 3–5 Aug 1975 Louisville, U.S. Clay Anand Amritraj Wojciech Fibak
Guillermo Vilas
Win 4–5 Sep 1975 Los Angeles, U.S. Hard Anand Amritraj Cliff Drysdale
Marty Riessen		 7–6, 4–6, 6–4
Loss 4–6 Nov 1975 Calcutta, India Clay Anand Amritraj Juan Gisbert
Manuel Orantes		 6–1, 4–6, 3–6
Win 5–6 Mar 1976 Memphis, U.S. Carpet (i) Anand Amritraj Roscoe Tanner
Marty Riessen		 6–3, 6–4
Loss 5–7 Mar 1977 St. Louis, U.S. Carpet (i) Dick Stockton Ilie Năstase
Adriano Panatta		 4–6, 6–3, 6–76
Loss 5–8 Mar 1977 Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet (i) Dick Stockton Wojciech Fibak
Tom Okker		 4–6, 4–6
Win 6–8 May 1977 Masters Doubles WCT, U.S. Carpet (i) Dick Stockton Vitas Gerulaitis
Adriano Panatta		 7–6, 7–6, 4–6, 6–3
Win 7–8 Jun 1977 London, England Grass Anand Amritraj David Lloyd
John Lloyd		 6–1, 6–2
Win 8–8 Sep 1978 Mexico City, Mexico Clay Anand Amritraj Fred McNair
Raúl Ramírez		 6–4, 7–5
Loss 8–9 Apr 1979 Cairo, Egypt Clay Anand Amritraj Peter McNamara
Paul McNamee		 5–7, 4–6
Loss 8–10 Jul 1979 Louisville, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez Marty Riessen
Sherwood Stewart		 2–6, 6–1, 1–6
Loss 8–11 Oct 1979 Sydney, Australia Hard Pat Dupre Rod Frawley
Francisco González
Win 9–11 Mar 1980 Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet (i) Stan Smith Bill Scanlon
Brian Teacher		 6–4, 6–3
Win 10–11 Mar 1980 Frankfurt, Germany Carpet (i) Stan Smith Andrew Pattison
Butch Walts		 6–7, 6–2, 6–2
Loss 10–12 Aug 1981 Columbus, U.S. Hard Anand Amritraj Bruce Manson
Brian Teacher		 1–6, 1–6
Loss 10–13 Nov 1982 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. Carpet (i) Fred Stolle Anand Amritraj
Tony Giammalva		 5–7, 2–6
Win 11–13 Nov 1982 Chicago, U.S. Carpet (i) Anand Amritraj Mike Cahill
Bruce Manson		 3–6, 6–3, 6–3
Win 12–13 Feb 1983 Kuwait City, Kuwait Hard Ilie Năstase Broderick Dyke
Rod Frawley		 6–3, 3–6, 6–2
Win 13–13 Jul 1983 Newport, U.S. Grass John Fitzgerald Tim Gullikson
Tom Gullikson		 6–3, 6–4
Loss 13–14 Aug 1983 Columbus, U.S. Hard John Fitzgerald Scott Davis
Brian Teacher		 1–6, 6–4, 6–7
Loss 13–15 Oct 1984 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i) Ilie Năstase Henri Leconte
Tomáš Šmíd		 6–3, 6–7, 4–6
Win 14–15 Jul 1986 Newport, U.S. Grass Tim Wilkison Eddie Edwards
Francisco González		 4–6, 7–5, 7–6

References
  1. Vijay Amritraj Archived 5 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine at the Association of Tennis Professionals
  2. Andrew McNicol (11 May 2018). "From James Bond cameo to biopic on his extraordinary life: tennis legend Vijay Amritraj to serve up another smash hit". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  3. "Tennis legend Vijay Amritraj biopic in works". New Indian Express. 17 September 2017. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  4. "The man that brought you CTL: 6 reasons Vijay Amritraj is India's hero". Sportskeeda. 28 November 2014. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  5. Dhananjay Roy (28 February 2018). "Sports champions say a big thank you to Mahindra Scorpio TOISA". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  6. Lisa Dillman (2 August 1987). "TENNIS DIPLOMAT : Vijay Amritraj Helps Pave the Way for Israel's Davis Cup Team to Play in India Despite Terrorist Threats". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  7. "Padma Awards Directory (1954–2014)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs (India). 21 May 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  8. "Pride of Chennai - A list of people that make Chennai proud". Itz Chennai. January 2012. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  9. "At home on every turf". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 29 July 2004. Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2007.
  10. "Maggie Amritraj passes away at 92". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  11. "Mother of Amritraj brothers, Maggie, dies at 92". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  12. "MI6 allies". Archived from the original on 2 February 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  13. Lidz, Franz (31 March 1986). "Tennis Player Vijay Amritraj Is As Fine on Film As He Is on the Court". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  14. "Honeymoon over for Amritraj". The Southeast Missourian. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  15. "Amritrajs' Big-Fat Wedding in Colombo". Fashion Scandal. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  16. "Messengers of Peace". Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Archived from the original on 26 December 2002. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  17. "The Vijay Amritraj Foundation". Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  18. "Look to the Stars". Archived from the original on 2 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
Awards
First ATP Most Improved Player
1973		 Succeeded by
Guillermo Vilas
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