Mahesh Shrinivas Bhupathi is an Indian former professional tennis player, widely regarded as one of the most successful doubles specialists in the history of the sport. In 1997, he became the first Indian to win a Grand Slam title when he partnered Rika Hiraki of Japan to win the mixed doubles championship at the French Open. Over the course of his career, Bhupathi won twelve Grand Slam titles in men's doubles and mixed doubles combined, and reached the world No. 1 ranking in doubles.
Key Facts
| Full name | Mahesh Shrinivas Bhupathi |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 June 1974 |
| Place of birth | Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India |
| Father | C. G. Krishna Bhupathi (former tennis player) |
| Spouse | Lara Dutta (m. 2011) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned professional | 1995 |
| Retired | 2013 |
| Career-high doubles ranking | World No. 1 (April 1999) |
| Grand Slam titles | 12 (4 men's doubles, 8 mixed doubles) |
| Major honours | Arjuna Award (1995), Padma Shri (2001), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (1995–96, jointly) |
Background
Mahesh Bhupathi was born in Madras to a Telugu-speaking family. His father, C. G. Krishna Bhupathi, was himself a tennis player and became Mahesh's first coach. Bhupathi grew up in Bengaluru and trained at his father's tennis academy before moving to the United States, where he attended the University of Mississippi on a tennis scholarship and competed in the NCAA collegiate circuit. In 1995, he won the NCAA men's doubles championship, becoming the first Indian to do so, before turning professional later that year.
Career
Early breakthrough
Bhupathi rose rapidly on the ATP tour as a doubles specialist. At the 1997 French Open, he paired with Rika Hiraki to win the mixed doubles title, becoming the first Indian to win a Grand Slam championship in any discipline.
Partnership with Leander Paes
His most celebrated partnership was with fellow Indian Leander Paes. The duo, popularly known as the "Indian Express", reached the finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments in 1999 — a feat that earned them the world No. 1 doubles team ranking. They won the men's doubles titles at the 1999 French Open and the 1999 Wimbledon Championships. The pair also won the 2001 French Open men's doubles title. Despite well-documented disagreements over the years, Bhupathi and Paes were periodically reunited for Grand Slam events and Davis Cup ties.
Other partnerships and titles
Bhupathi enjoyed considerable success with several other partners. With Max Mirnyi of Belarus, he won the 2002 US Open and 2002 French Open men's doubles titles. He also won mixed doubles titles with partners including Martina Hingis (2006 Australian Open), Mary Pierce (2005 Wimbledon), Daniela Hantuchova (2006 US Open) and Sania Mirza (2009 Australian Open and 2012 French Open mixed doubles).
Davis Cup and Olympics
Bhupathi represented India in the Davis Cup over many years, accumulating one of the highest doubles win counts for the country. He also participated in multiple editions of the Summer Olympics — Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 — though Olympic medal honours eluded him.
Grand Slam Titles
- Men's Doubles (4): French Open 1999, Wimbledon 1999, French Open 2001, French Open 2002, US Open 2002
- Mixed Doubles (8): French Open 1997, US Open 1999, Wimbledon 2002, Australian Open 2006, Wimbledon 2005, US Open 2006, Australian Open 2009, French Open 2012
Awards and honours
- Arjuna Award (1995–96) — for outstanding performance in tennis
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (1995–96) — jointly with Leander Paes
- Padma Shri (2001) — India's fourth-highest civilian honour
Off-court ventures
Bhupathi has been active as a sports entrepreneur. He founded Globosport, a sports management and marketing agency that has represented several Indian athletes and entertainers. He was also closely associated with the launch of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), a franchise-based exhibition league featuring leading global players, which began in 2014. Bhupathi has additionally served as the non-playing captain of the Indian Davis Cup team.
Personal life
Bhupathi married actress and former Miss Universe runner-up Lara Dutta in February 2011. The couple have a daughter, Saira, born in 2012. Bhupathi was previously married to Shvetha Jaishankar, a model and former Miss India.
Significance
Bhupathi's career was instrumental in raising the profile of tennis in India during the late 1990s and 2000s. As the first Indian to win a Grand Slam title and as part of the most successful doubles pairing produced by India, he helped popularise the sport beyond its traditional metropolitan base. His subsequent business and administrative roles have continued to influence the development of professional tennis in the country.