"She wants to be an Olympic champion"
Leander Paes, India’s most decorated tennis player and an 18-time Grand Slam champion, is watching the next generation of his sporting family rise.
His 19-year-old daughter, Aiyana Paes, has officially stepped onto the professional tennis circuit but under the British flag.
Born to the tennis icon and British model Rhea Laila Pillai, Aiyana has chosen to represent Great Britain as she begins her journey in professional tennis.
Currently based in Barcelona, she trains at one of the world’s leading tennis academies and hopes to carve out her own legacy in the sport.
Earlier in 2025, Aiyana made her professional debut at the ITF W15 Alaminos Futures in Cyprus.
It was reported that she entered through the qualifying draw but was defeated in the opening round.
Since then, she has competed in four more ITF Futures events, signalling her determination to build momentum in the competitive circuit.
Her father, Leander, has long played a guiding role in her development.
In a 2020 interview, he shared: “I have been teaching her the nuances of the family trade, which is physical fitness, emotional happiness, and mental fitness.
“She wants to be an Olympic champion herself and I get goosebumps when I think of a third-generation Olympic medallist. I’ll try to nurture that (dream).”
Aiyana’s sporting roots run deep.
Her grandfather, the late Dr Vece Paes, was a bronze medallist with India’s hockey team at the 1972 Munich Olympics and the 1971 Hockey World Cup in Barcelona.
Beyond hockey, he excelled as a sports medicine doctor and later became president of both the Calcutta Cricket and Football Club and the Indian Rugby Football Union.
In an interview with Travel and Leisure Asia earlier in 2025, Leander Paes revealed a glimpse of his daughter’s early ambition.
“She came to me at 12 and said, ‘I want to be a professional tennis player’. I laughed at first.
“But she was serious. She said, ‘I want to be like Dadaji (her grandfather), not you. You’re always joking’.”
The comment reflects both her humour and her deep respect for her family’s legacy.
While Aiyana’s decision to represent Great Britain marks a new chapter, her drive to uphold her family’s sporting excellence remains clear.
With her base in Europe, access to elite coaching, and a renowned surname behind her, Aiyana Paes is one to watch in the coming years.
As her father once dominated the global stage, his daughter now looks ready to script her own story.
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