Tennis legend Vijay Amritraj still has his charm! This week, at the exciting centenary celebrations of the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA), the 71-year-old gracefully shared the runway with fellow tennis stars Amina Anshba, Eden Silva, Rutuja Bhonsle, and Maria Timofeeva. They were joined by model and author Shvetha Jaishankar, who also expertly produced the show. Amritraj, the president of TNTA, playfully remarked, “I walk the ramp a lot, especially upwards…on a staircase,” sparking laughter from the audience.
Ramanathan Krishnan and Vijay Amritraj share a joyful moment, cutting a cake to commemorate 100 years of the TNTA.
The stylish fashion show, presented by Titan, featured models adorned in exquisite saris from Taneira and stunning jewelry from Mia by Tanishq and Tanishq. Some pieces even boasted unique tennis-inspired designs like tiny racquets and balls. This grand event, held at the luxurious ITC Grand Chola, also marked the release of a beautiful coffee table book titled A Century of Championing Tennis in Tamil Nadu. This book is a treasure trove of classic photographs and reports, many of which Vijay proudly noted were sourced from The Hindu’s extensive archives. For Vijay, the evening’s emotional high point was celebrating this milestone with the entire Krishnan family, as he and Ramanathan Krishnan cut the celebratory cake together. “It brought back great memories of playing with him,” Vijay fondly recalled.
Shvetha Jaishankar gracefully walks the ramp at the celebratory event.
Adding to the excitement, this year celebrates the much-anticipated return of the Chennai Open after a three-year break. The ATP Challenger 100 Men’s International Tennis Championship was held in February, and now the WTA 250 tournament is actively in progress. Leading up to its grand 100th year, the TNTA has been diligently organizing numerous tournaments throughout Tamil Nadu, reaching districts, towns, and cities, further solidifying its presence across the state.
“Tennis in Tamil Nadu is thriving and stands as a national leader in promoting the sport,” says Vijay Amritraj. Indeed, the state has a rich legacy of producing tennis champions. Legends like Ramanathan Krishnan, Ramesh Krishnan, Vijay and Anand Amritraj, Mahesh Bhupathi, Somdev Devvarman, Asian champion Lakshmi Mahadevan, and Nirupama Sanjeev (the first Indian woman to win a round at a Grand Slam in the open era) all hail from this region, among many other notable players.
A nostalgic glimpse: The formidable India Davis Cup team that reached the finals in 1974.
With tennis gaining immense popularity, one might wonder if newer games like pickleball could pose a challenge. Vijay addresses this thoughtfully: “You have to consider the diverse demographics and age groups. Everyone who isn’t currently playing a sport should participate. The more sports available, the better options people have to choose from.” He further clarifies, “Pickleball is easier to learn than tennis, which demands significantly more hand-eye coordination. While pickleball is a fun activity, players should be mindful of potential injuries.”
An iconic moment: Ramanathan Krishnan in action during a Wimbledon match in the 1960s.
As the recent challenges have subsided and the WTA 250 games are back in full swing, Vijay Amritraj and the dedicated team at TNTA are clearly delighted, seeing this as a truly fitting grand finale to a remarkable year of celebrations.