Ramanathan Krishnan made history in 1954 by becoming the first Indian and the first Asian to win the Wimbledon Junior Singles title, defeating Ashley Cooper in the final. His victory marked the beginning of India's emergence on the international tennis stage. Known for his elegant style and skillful play, Krishnan quickly rose in stature. He was ranked among the world’s top ten players on five occasions.

Born on April 11, 1937, Ramanathan Krishnan was trained by his father, T.K. Ramanathan, and dominated the Indian national circuit with eight consecutive senior titles. He reached the Wimbledon semifinals in both 1960 and 1961, losing to Fraser and Rod Laver, respectively. In 1962, he was seeded fourth at Wimbledon, a rare honor for an Indian. He was also part of the Indian Davis Cup team that reached the final in 1966.