Tennis legend Leander Paes has stated that India may require at least another decade to produce its next Grand Slam champion. He emphasized the need for former players to play an active role in nurturing young talent, as part of a broader vision to establish India as a sports superpower capable of hosting the 2036 Olympics and winning medals.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Tennis Premier League (TPL) auctions on Wednesday, Paes highlighted the importance of focusing on grassroots development and creating a robust feeder system for tennis. “I think it’s probably going to take another 10 years to produce a Grand Slam champion,” he remarked. “The focus needs to be on the grassroots base level, and then the feeder system coming up, to churn out the numbers.”

Paes expressed his belief in the vast talent present in India but stressed that reaching out to underprivileged children in rural areas is crucial. He urged the sporting fraternity and governance bodies to support aspiring athletes who may lack the resources that many fortunate players have.

His comments underline the ongoing challenges faced by Indian tennis and the importance of strategic planning for the future of the sport in the country.