Indian Tennis Players to Appear in All Four Grand Slams Singles Main Draw in a Calendar Year

Indian tennis history is known for its diversity and richness, with remarkable achievements spanning over decades. The nation’s legacy in tennis includes three Davis Cup final appearances (1966, 1974, and 1987), the most by any Asian country. Indian players have also been paramount on the international doubles circuit for over two decades. Nevertheless, despite these successes in team and doubles events, only a few Indian players have consistently appeared in the singles main draws of Grand Slam events.

Appearing in the singles main draw of all four Grand Slams—Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open—in a calendar year is a notable feat. It requires not only skill and resilience but also the ability to perform consistently across different surfaces and under varying conditions. Here, we take a look at the Indian players who have achieved this substantial milestone.

1. Ramesh Krishnan (1979, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1990)

Ramesh Krishnan, the son of legendary Indian tennis player Ramanathan Krishnan, is one of the most proficient Indian tennis players. Ramesh began making headlines early in his career when he won the Junior singles titles at both Wimbledon and the French Open. He later carried forward the Indian tennis legacy, reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 1986 and the US Open in 1981 and 1987. Ramesh also played an essential role in India’s Davis Cup team, helping them reach the finals in 1987. Over his 15-year professional career, he appeared in the singles main draw of all four Grand Slams five times, reaching a career-high ranking of 23 in 1985.

2. Leander Paes (1997)

Leander Paes is extensively known for his influence in the doubles circuit, but his singles career also had remarkable achievements. Before focusing on doubles, Paes won the Bronze medal in men’s singles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, a substantial achievement for Indian tennis. In 1997, he appeared in the singles main draw of all four Grand Slams. Paes reached a career-high singles ranking of 73 in 1998 and earned one ATP singles title, representing his versatility as a player.

3. Sania Mirza (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011)

Sania Mirza is feasibily India’s most successful singles tennis player. With a career win-loss record of 271-161 in singles, Sania became the first Indian woman to achieve a WTA singles title. She reached a career-high ranking of 27 in 2007 and regularly competed in the singles main draw of all four Grand Slams, achieving this feat five times. Sania’s singles career saw her defeating some of the world’s top players, including Svetlana Kuznetsova, Vera Zvonareva, and Victoria Azarenka. Unluckily, a wrist injury cut short her singles career, which lead her to focus on doubles.

4. Somdev Devvarman (2011)

Somdev Devvarman created a name for himself in the late 2000s and early 2010s. He reached the finals of two ATP-250 events and won the singles gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. In 2011, Somdev appeared in the singles main draw of all four Grand Slams, a standout year in his career. He also achieved his career-high ranking of 62 that year, after striking performances against top-ranked players.

5. Yuki Bhambri (2018)

Yuki Bhambri, a former junior world no. 1 and Australian Open junior champion, broke into the top 100 rankings in 2015. In spite of all the struggles with injuries, Bhambri made a strong comeback in 2018, reaching his career-high ranking of 83. He appeared in the singles main draw of all four Grand Slams that year, though he was unable to advance beyond the first round in any of them.

6. Prajnesh Gunneswaran (2019)

Prajnesh Gunneswaran had a breakthrough season in 2019. After rising through the ranks in 2018, he continued his dynamism into 2019, reaching a career-high ranking of 75. He appeared in the singles main draw of all four Grand Slams that year, though he faced tough competition and was destroyed in the first round in all of them.

7. Sumit Nagal (2024)

Sumit Nagal is the latest addition to this premier list, achieving the milestone in 2024. After returning from hip surgery in 2023, Nagal swiftly made a mark, achieving four ATP Challenger titles and breaking into the top 100 rankings in early 2024. He made headlines by defeating Alexander Bublik in the first round of the Australian Open and continued his strong performance throughout the year, appearing in the singles main draw of all four Grand Slams.

Sumit’s victory underscores the continued presence of Indian players in global tennis, it is inspiring for the upcoming generation to pursue their dreams on the world’s biggest stages.

Cover Credits - ATP Tour