Leander Paes, winner of 18 Grand Slam titles in men’s doubles or mixed doubles, became the first Asian man to be nominated for the Tennis Hall of Fame in the players category.

Paes, born in India, is one of six players nominated Tuesday in the class of 2024. Spaniard Carlos Moyá, Serbian Ana Ivanovic, Italian Flavia Pennetta, Zimbabwean Cara Black and Canadian Daniel Nestor repeat.

China’s Li Na, who won two singles titles in Grand Slam events, was the first Asian tennis player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame based in Newport, Rhode Island. He joined in 2019.

“After three decades of passion for our sport and having represented over 1.3 billion Indians at the Olympics and Davis Cup, I am delighted that my hard work has been recognized,” Paes said.

The list of candidates for 2024 includes two personalities in the contributor category: Vijay Amritraj and journalist Richard Evans.

Paes has won every Grand Slam in men’s doubles and mixed doubles. He became world number one in doubles. His eight men’s doubles titles – with four different partners – were distributed as follows: three at the French Open and the US Open, and one each at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Her mixed doubles Slam titles were won with several partners, including Martina Navratilova, Martina Hingis and Black.

Moyá, Ivanovic, Pennetta, Black and Nestor failed to reach the minimum 75% of the vote in an election that includes journalists, historians, Hall of Famers and other tennis experts . An additional percentage is also awarded based on fan voting. Candidates can compete for three years.

Online fan voting will take place between Wednesday and October 9.

The Class of 2023 included two adapted tennis figures: Esther Vergeer and Rick Draney, inducted in July.