Vijay Amritraj

Vijay Amritraj (Template:IPA; born 14 December 1953) is an Indian retired professional tennis player, sports commentator and actor from Madras.<ref name="James Bond">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was awarded the Padma Shri, the government of India's fourth-highest civilian honour, in 1983.<ref name="award80-89">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2022, he was honored for his contributions to tennis in London by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and International Tennis Federation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On July 20, 2024 he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

File:Anand and Vijay Amritraj 2000 Wimbledon Sr Invitation Doubles Finals.jpg

Vijay Amritraj partnering brother Anand at the 2000 Wimbledon Championships

Early life

Vijay was born in Madras,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> India to a Tamil Christian Nadar family consisting of parents Maggie Dhairyam and Robert Amritraj,<ref name="hindu_04">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>and brothers Anand Amritraj and Ashok Amritraj, who were also international tennis players.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

After playing his first Grand Prix event in 1970, Amritraj achieved his first success in singles in 1973 when he reached the quarterfinals at two Grand Slam events.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Wimbledon, he lost in five sets<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Amritraj beat Björn Borg in the second round in the US Open in 1974, losing to Rosewall in quarterfinals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Amritraj was part of the India Davis Cup team that reached the finals in 1974 and 1987.Template:Citation needed Amritraj had a career singles win–loss record 405–312, winning 15 singles and 13 doubles titles.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Acting career

Amritraj has also pursued an acting career. His best known role is probably as the MI6 intelligence operative Vijay in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also appeared briefly in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) as starship captain Joel Randolph.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He has since gone on to become a sports commentator, has been a judge at the Miss Universe pageant, and has developed a multimedia business. Amritraj also hosts a talk show named Dimensions with Vijay Amritraj broadcast on CNN-IBN.Template:Citation needed

Personal life

Amritraj lives in Southern California with his wife Shymala and sons Prakash Amritraj and Vikram.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Prakash and his paternal cousin Stephen Amritraj are also professional tennis players.

On 9 February 2001, Vijay was appointed a United Nations Messenger of 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He founded The Vijay Amritraj Foundation in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Film
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1983	Octopussy	Vijay
1985	Nine Deaths of the Ninja	Rankin
1986	Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home	Starship Captain Joel Randolph
2015	Of God and Kings	Duke Bora Swain

Career statistics

Singles performance timeline

Tournament	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	SR
Australian Open	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	1R	2R	A	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 2
French Open	A	A	3R	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 1
Wimbledon	2R	QF	2R	2R	2R	2R	2R	2R	1R	QF	3R	1R	1R	4R	1R	2R	A	A	1R	0 / 17
US Open	1R	QF	QF	2R	1R	1R	1R	2R	3R	3R	A	A	2R	1R	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 12

Career finals

Singles: 27 (19–8)

Legend
Grand Slam (0)
ATP Masters Series (0)
ATP Tour (15)

Result	W/L	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1–0	Template:Dts	Rothmans Chichester, England (ATP Challenger Tour)	Grass	Template:Flagicon Doug Crawford	6-1, 7-6
Win	2–0	Template:Dts	Volvo International Bretton Woods, U.S.	Clay	Template:Flagicon Jimmy Connors	7–5, 2–6, 7–5
Loss	2–1	Template:Dts	South Orange, U.S.	Grass	Template:Flagicon Colin Dibley	4–6, 7–6, 4–6
Win	3–1	Template:Dts	New Delhi, India	Grass	Template:Flagicon Mal Anderson	6–4, 5–7, 8–9, 6–3, 11–9
Loss	3–2	Template:Dts	Tempe, U.S.	Hard	Template:Flagicon Jimmy Connors	1–6, 2–6
Win	4–2	Template:Dts	Washington D.C., U.S. (ATP Challenger Tour)	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Karl Meiler	6–4, 6–3
Win	5–2	Template:Dts	Beckenham, England	Grass	Template:Flagicon Tom Gorman	6–7, 6–2, 6–4
Win	6–2	Template:Dts	Columbus, U.S.	Hard	Template:Flagicon Bob Lutz	6–4, 7–5
Win	7–2	Template:Dts	Calcutta, India	Clay	Template:Flagicon Manuel Orantes	7–5, 6–3
Win	8–2	Template:Dts	Memphis, U.S.	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Stan Smith	6–2, 0–6, 6–0
Win	9–2	Template:Dts	Newport, U.S.	Grass	Template:Flagicon Brian Teacher	6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–1
Win	10–2	Template:Dts	Auckland, New Zealand	Grass	Template:Flagicon Tim Wilkison	7–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–2
Win	11–2	Template:Dts	Bombay, India	Clay	Template:Flagicon Terry Moor	7–6, 6–4
Win	12–2	Template:Dts	Mexico City, Mexico	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Raúl Ramírez	6–4, 6–4
Loss	12–3	Template:Dts	Cologne, West Germany	Hard (i)	Template:Flagicon Wojciech Fibak	2–6, 1–0 ret.
Win	13–3	Template:Dts	Bombay, India	Clay	Template:Flagicon Peter Elter	6–1, 7–5
Loss	13–4	Template:Dts	WCT Invitational Salisbury, U.S.	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Björn Borg	5–7, 1–6, 3–6
Loss	13–5	Template:Dts	Milan, Italy	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon John McEnroe	2–6, 4–6
Win	14–5	Template:Dts	Newport, U.S.	Grass	Template:Flagicon Andrew Pattison	6–1, 5–7, 6–3
Win	15–5	Template:Dts	Bangkok, Thailand	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Brian Teacher	6–3, 7–5
Loss	15–6	Template:Dts	WCT Challenge Cup, Canada	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon John McEnroe	1–6, 6–2, 1–6
Loss	15–7	Template:Dts	Salisbury WCT, U.S.	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Bill Scanlon	6-3, 2-2, 4-6, 6-3, 4-6
Loss	15–8	Template:Dts	Stowe, U.S.	Hard	Template:Flagicon John Fitzgerald	6–3, 2–6, 5–7
Win	16–8	Template:Dts	Spring, Texas, U.S. (ATP Challenger Tour)	Hard (i)	Template:Flagicon Leif Shiras	7–5, 4–6 7–6
Win	17–8	Template:Dts	Newport, U.S.	Grass	Template:Flagicon Tim Mayotte	3–6, 6–4, 6–4
Win	18–8	Template:Dts	Bristol, England	Grass	Template:Flagicon Henri Leconte	7–6, 1–6, 8–6
Win	19–8	Template:Dts	New Haven, U.S. (ATP Challenger Tour)	Hard	Template:Flagicon Zeeshan Ali	6–3, 6–1

Doubles: 29 (14–15)

Result	W/L	Date	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	0–1	Template:Dts	New Delhi, India		Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Jim McManus Template:Flagicon Raúl Ramírez	2–6, 4–6
Win	1–1	Template:Dts	Bombay, India	Clay	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Dick Crealy Template:Flagicon Onny Parun	6–4, 7–6
Loss	1–2	Template:Dts	South Orange, U.S.	Hard	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Brian Gottfried Template:Flagicon Raúl Ramírez	6–7, 7–6, 6–7
Win	2–2	Template:Dts	Columbus, U.S.	Hard	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Tom Gorman Template:Flagicon Bob Lutz	walkover
Loss	2–3	Template:Dts	Toronto, Canada	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Dick Stockton Template:Flagicon Erik van Dillen	4–6, 5–7, 1–6
Loss	2–4	Template:Dts	Washington D.C., U.S.	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Mike Estep Template:Flagicon Jeff Simpson	6–75, 3–6
Win	3–4	Template:Dts	Atlanta, U.S.	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Mark Cox Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale	6–3, 6–2
Loss	3–5	Template:Dts	Louisville, U.S.	Clay	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Wojciech Fibak Template:Flagicon Guillermo Vilas	(not played)
Win	4–5	Template:Dts	Los Angeles, U.S.	Hard	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen	7–6, 4–6, 6–4
Loss	4–6	Template:Dts	Calcutta, India	Clay	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Juan Gisbert Template:Flagicon Manuel Orantes	6–1, 4–6, 3–6
Win	5–6	Template:Dts	Memphis, U.S.	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Roscoe Tanner Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen	6–3, 6–4
Loss	5–7	Template:Dts	St. Louis, U.S.	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Dick Stockton	Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase Template:Flagicon Adriano Panatta	4–6, 6–3, 6–76
Loss	5–8	Template:Dts	Rotterdam, Netherlands	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Dick Stockton	Template:Flagicon Wojciech Fibak Template:Flagicon Tom Okker	4–6, 4–6
Win	6–8	Template:Dts	Masters Doubles WCT, U.S.	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Dick Stockton	Template:Flagicon Vitas Gerulaitis Template:Flagicon Adriano Panatta	7–6, 7–6, 4–6, 6–3
Win	7–8	Template:Dts	London, England	Grass	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon David Lloyd Template:Flagicon John Lloyd	6–1, 6–2
Win	8–8	Template:Dts	Mexico City, Mexico	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Fred McNair Template:Flagicon Raúl Ramírez	6–4, 7–5
Loss	8–9	Template:Dts	Cairo, Egypt	Clay	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Peter McNamara Template:Flagicon Paul McNamee	5–7, 4–6
Loss	8–10	Template:Dts	Louisville, U.S.	Hard	Template:Flagicon Raúl Ramírez	Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen Template:Flagicon Sherwood Stewart	2–6, 6–1, 1–6
Loss	8–11	Template:Dts	Sydney, Australia	Hard	Template:Flagicon Pat DuPré	Template:Flagicon Rod Frawley Template:Flagicon Francisco González	walkover
Win	9–11	Template:Dts	Rotterdam, Netherlands	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Stan Smith	Template:Flagicon Bill Scanlon Template:Flagicon Brian Teacher	6–4, 6–3
Win	10–11	Template:Dts	Frankfurt, West Germany	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Stan Smith	Template:Flagicon Andrew Pattison Template:Flagicon Butch Walts	6–7, 6–2, 6–2
Loss	10–12	Template:Dts	Columbus, U.S.	Hard	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Bruce Manson Template:Flagicon Brian Teacher	1–6, 1–6
Loss	10–13	Template:Dts	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Fred Stolle	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj Template:Flagicon Tony Giammalva	5–7, 2–6
Win	11–13	Template:Dts	Chicago, U.S.	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Anand Amritraj	Template:Flagicon Mike Cahill Template:Flagicon Bruce Manson	3–6, 6–3, 6–3
Win	12–13	Template:Dts	Kuwait City, Kuwait (ATP Challenger Tour)	Hard	Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase	Template:Flagicon Broderick Dyke Template:Flagicon Rod Frawley	6–3, 3–6, 6–2
Win	13–13	Template:Dts	Newport, U.S.	Grass	Template:Flagicon John Fitzgerald	Template:Flagicon Tim Gullikson Template:Flagicon Tom Gullikson	6–3, 6–4
Loss	13–14	Template:Dts	Columbus, U.S.	Hard	Template:Flagicon John Fitzgerald	Template:Flagicon Scott Davis Template:Flagicon Brian Teacher	1–6, 6–4, 6–7
Loss	13–15	Template:Dts	Stockholm, Sweden	Hard (i)	Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase	Template:Flagicon Henri Leconte Template:Flagicon Tomáš Šmíd	6–3, 6–7, 4–6
Win	14–15	[[1986 Hall of Fame Tennis Championships|Template:Dts]]	Newport, U.S.	Grass	Template:Flagicon Tim Wilkison	Template:Flagicon Eddie Edwards Template:Flagicon Francisco González	4–6, 7–5, 7–6

External links

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• Template:ITF
• Template:Davis Cup player
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