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ITF honours its world champions

Roll of honour

Men’s singles: Andre Agassi (USA) Women’s singles: Martina Hingis (SUI) Men’s doubles: Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND) Women’s doubles: Martina Hingis (SUI)/Anna Kournikova (RUS) Men’s Wheelchair Tennis: Stephen Welch (USA) Women’s Wheelchair Tennis: Daniela Di Toro (AUS) Boys’ singles: Kristian Pless (DEN) Girls’ singles: Lina Krasnoroutskaia (RUS) Boys’ doubles: Julien Benneteau/Nicolas Mahut (FRA) Girls’ doubles: Daniela Bedanova (CZE)

The International Tennis Federation yesterday honoured its world champions for their outstanding performances on court during 1999, as it celebrated Olympic and Paralympic tennis at the magnificent Hotel De Ville, the city hall of the French capital in Paris.

Martina Hingis, Mahesh Bhupathi, Leander Paes, Anna Kournikova, Stephen Welch, Daniela Di Toro, Kristian Pless, Lina Krasnoroutskaia, Julien Benneteau, Nicolas Mahut and Daniela Bedanova were among those honoured at the Champions' dinner.

The ITF dinner had an Olympic theme to mark the Olympic and Paralympic tennis events taking place at Sydney later this year. Former and current Olympic and Paralympic medallists were invited, including Boris Becker, Leander Paes, Goran Ivanisevic, Ricky Molier, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, the 'Woodies' - - Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge - - and Natasha Zvereva.

The annual Philippe Chatrier award was given to IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch for his enormous contribution to Olympic tennis. Previous winners of this prestigious award are Stefan Edberg, Chris Evert, Rod Laver and Nicola Pietrangeli.

Former Indian tennis ace Vijay Amritraj was master of ceremonies, a role he fulfilled with style and charisma.