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Vijay Amritraj played and won despite the refusal of doctors in the 1987 Davis Cup semi -finals. He became the first Indian to reach the quarter -finals of Wimbledon and US Open.
India’s great tennis player Vijay Amritraj News18’s Rising Bharat Summit 2025
Highlights
- Vijay Amritraj played in 1987 despite the doctors’ refusal.
- Vijay Wimbledon and US Open Quarter reached the finals.
- Vijay narrates the story of 1987 Davis Cup semi -finals
New Delhi. At one time of the game of Vijay Amritraj, the great Indian tennis player, the world was crazy. A person who gave a new dimension to this game in India. Vijay, who reached the stage of Rising Bharat Summit 2025 of News18, narrated some special stories related to his life to the audience. It also included the match of the 1987 Davis Cup semi -finals when Vijay came out to play for the country even after the doctors refused.
Vijay Amritraj gave Bharti Tennis a distinct identity all over the world. The first Indian to reach the quarter -final singles of Wimbledon and US Opener, he achieved the success that is still like a dream for an Indian. Vijay, who was part of the David Cup winning team twice, narrated the special story of the 1987 semi -final when the doctors did not allow him to play.
On the stage of Rising Bharat Summit 2025 of News18, Vijay narrated the story of 1987, saying, India was having a semi -final match against Australia. He had played many matches in the last two days and his health was not good. During the Davis Cup, his reason suddenly decreased by 11 pounds i.e. about 5 kg. The doctors advised him not to play and said that they should not come down in the court.
I was at the last stop of his career and I was in front of me in the world ranking number 7. My weight was reduced by 11 pounds during the tournament. Was played for 4 hours on the first day and sweated in 5 hours on the second day. The face was with a player who was 21 years old and I was at the last stop of his career. I played the match continuously while he got complete mangoes.
I had lost the first and second set in the match, I was also trailing in the third set. Here I took a 10 -minute break in which the doctor said after checking me that you cannot allow you to play further in the match. I only thought that this is the time that you will participate in the list of great players by playing for the country or you will save your life. I told the doctor that you get oxygen tanks and also make sure that the ambulance is ready. If I leave the match incomplete from the court, I will come on the stretcher. I went and played the match till 5 sets, on the basis of this victory, our team reached the final.
