LEANDER PÆS produced one of the most effective pairings with MAHESH BHUPATHI in tennis history. This pair is the first Indian single/pair to be ranked No. 1 in the world. In fact MAHESH BHUPATHI had become the first ever Indian to win a TENNIS GRAND SLAM TROPHY in 1997 when he won the FRENCH OPEN 1997 MIXED DOUBLES EVENT while partnering a JAPANese girl by the name of RIKA HIRAKI. Incidentally this was the first ever TENNIS GRAND SLAM TROPHY for JAPAN also.