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Paes makes history by winning two Wimbledon titles

Fourth of July 1999 is not a day Indian tennis star Leander Paes is ever likely to forget. The day some doomsayers said Nostradamus had predicted the world's end proved to be probably the most eventful day in the life of the world's top-ranked doubles player.

He made history by being one of the first two Indians to win a senior title at Wimbledon. And promptly followed it up by becoming the first Indian to win TWO senior titles on the hallowed grass.

The Indian ace, partnered by Mahesh Bhupathi, world number 2 in doubles, won the men's doubles title, defeating Paul Haarhuis of The Netherlands and American Jared Palmer on Court No 1 in four sets.

Next, Paes teamed up with Lisa Raymond of the United States to win their mixed doubles semi-final against Mark Knowles of Bahamas and Elena Likhovtseva of Russia on Centre Court in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.

Soon thereafter, he and Raymond were back on Centre Court, contesting the final against the third-ranked pair of Jonas Bjorkman (Sweden) and Anna Kournikova (Russia). And despite the gruelling schedule Paes had been through in the last couple of days, especially today, he and Raymond pulled off another great victory in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.