Jean Borotra, the "Bounding Basque" in 1931
Jean Robert Borotra (13 August 1898–17 July 1994) was a French champion tennis player. He was one of the famous "Four Musketeers" from his country who dominated tennis in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
[edit] Career
Borotra was born in Domaine du Pouy, Biarritz, Aquitaine and married an English woman.
Known as "the Bounding Basque", he won five Grand Slam singles titles in the French, Australian, and British championships, failing to win only in the American championships, as he was defeated in the final by his countryman René Lacoste 6-4 6-0 6-4, thus missing a career Grand Slam. His first appearance was in the French Davis Cup team of 1921.
A member of François de la Rocque's Parti social français (PSF), he became 1st General Commissioner to Sports from August 1940 to April 1942 during Vichy France, leading the Révolution nationale's efforts in sports policy.
Arrested by the Gestapo in November 1942, Borotra was deported to a concentration camp in Germany and then Itter Castle in North Tyrol until May 1945.
The Four Musketeers were inducted simultaneously into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island in 1976. In 1984, Borotra received a Distinguished Service award from the United States Sports Academy in recognition of his achievements.
On 17 July 1994, Jean Borotra, founder and president of honour of the CIFP (International Committee for Fair Play) died at the age of 95, after a short illness. He was buried at Arbonne.
The International Fair Play Committee, which recognises achievements annually, awards a Jean Borotra World Fair Play Trophy.
[edit] Grand Slam record
- Australian Championships
- Singles champion: 1928
- Men's Doubles champion: 1928
- Mixed Doubles champion: 1928
- French Championships
- Singles champion: 1924, 1931
- Singles runner-up: 1925, 1929
- Men's Doubles champion: 1925, 1928, 1929, 1934, 1936
- Men's Doubles finalist: 1927
- Mixed Doubles champion: 1927, 1934
- Wimbledon
- Singles champion: 1924, 1926
- Singles finalist: 1925, 1927, 1929
- Men's Doubles champion: 1925, 1932, 1933
- Mixed Doubles champion: 1925
- U.S. Championship
- Singles finalist: 1926
- Mixed Doubles champion: 1926
[edit] External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Borotra, Jean |
| Alternative names |
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| Short description |
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| Date of birth |
1898 |
| Place of birth |
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| Date of death |
1994 |
| Place of death |
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