Benny Berthet

Benjamin Berthet (18 September 1910 — 20 January 1981) was a French tennis player and coach.[1]

Benny Berthet
Full nameBenjamin Berthet
Country (sports) France
Born(1910-09-18)18 September 1910
New York, United States
Died20 January 1981(1981-01-20) (aged 70)
Paris, France
PlaysRight-handed
Singles
Grand Slam singles results
French OpenQF (1931)
Wimbledon1R (1931, 1950)

Berthet was born to Polish-Jewish emigrants in New York and moved to France as a nine-year old.[2]

In 1931 he made the singles quarter-finals of the French Championships, losing to the top seed Jean Borotra.[3]

Berthet's title wins included the Polish International Championships.[4]

A jeweller by profession, Berthet fought with the French Army in World War II and became a prisoner of war in 1941. During his captivity at Oflag IV-D he and other prisoners build tennis courts to play on.[5]

Berthet continued to compete after the war until his appointment as non playing captain of the France Davis Cup team in 1954. He held this role for a then record 11-years, before being replaced by Gérard Pilet after the 1955 campaign.[2]

References
  1. "The Greatest Jewish Tennis Players of All Time Archives". World Tennis Magazine. 30 May 2015.
  2. "Benny Berthet, sauvé de la guerre par le tennis". L'Équipe (in French). 24 May 2019.
  3. "Lott Has Last Yank in Net Play". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 29 May 1931.
  4. "Polish International Championships 1931". www.tennisarchives.com.
  5. "Benny ce héros et la magie du tirage au sort". Graine de Sportive (in French). 23 May 2009.
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