History of Tennis in India

The game of tennis was conceived by the British and they took the game to their colonies. India was no exception and the game soon caught the fancy of the natives. Mohd. Saleem was one of the early stalwarts of the game and won the Punjab Lawn Tennis Championship consecutively from 1916-20.

The All India Lawn Tennis Association came into existence in 1920 and soon a number of state associations followed suit. The AILTA decide to host an annual national championship and work for Indian participation in the Davis Cup. India made an impressive Davis Cup debut by defeating the formidable French to reach the semi finals.

In the 1930s, Indians like Mohd. Saleem, A. A. Fayzee and Jagat Mohan Lal did well in Davis Cup and the Olympics to fetch laurels for the country. India's growing stature was enhanced by the visits of great tennis players like Bill Tilden and Henry Cochet.