 Jean Borotra in 1931 | |
| Full name | Jean Laurent Robert Borotra |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  France |
| Born | (1898-08-13)13 August 1898 Biarritz, France |
| Died | 17 July 1994(1994-07-17) (aged 95) Arbonne, France |
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Turned pro | 1920 (amateur tour) |
| Retired | 1956 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1976(member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 654–127 (83.7%)[1] |
| Career titles | 69[2] |
| Highest ranking | No. 2 (1926,A. Wallis Myers)[3] |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1928) |
| French Open | W (1931) |
| Wimbledon | W (1924,1926) |
| US Open | F (1926) |
| Other tournaments | |
| WHCC | SF (1922) |
| WCCC | F (1922) |
| Olympic Games | SF – 4th (1924) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | incomplete |
| Highest ranking | No.1 (1925) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1928) |
| French Open | W (1925, 1928, 1929, 1934, 1936) |
| Wimbledon | W (1925,1932,1933) |
| Other doubles tournaments | |
| WHCC | W (1922) |
| WCCC | W (1922) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1928) |
| French Open | W (1927, 1934) |
| Wimbledon | W (1925) |
| US Open | W (1926) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | W (1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932) |
Medal record | |
Jean Laurent Robert Borotra (French pronunciation:[ʒɑ̃ʁɔbɛʁbɔ.ʁotʁa],Basque pronunciation:[borotɾa]; 13 August 1898 – 17 July 1994) was a Frenchtennis champion. He was one of the "Four Musketeers" from his country who dominated tennis in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Borotra was imprisoned inItter Castle during the latter years of World War II and subsequently fought in theBattle for Castle Itter.[4]
Borotra was born in Domaine du Pouy,Biarritz,Aquitaine, the oldest of four children.[5]
Known as "the BoundingBasque", he won fourGrand Slam singles titles in theFrench,Australian, andAll England championships. The 1924 French Championship does not count towards his grand slam total as the French was only open to French nationals and members of French clubs. He only failed to win theU.S. Championships, as he was defeated in the final by his countrymanRené Lacoste in straight sets, thus missing a career Grand Slam. His 1924 Wimbledon victory made him the first player from outside the English-speaking world to win the tournament. His first appearance was in theFrench Davis Cup team of 1921. He also made the final of theWorld Covered Court Championships in 1922, losing toHenri Cochet, but won the doubles and mixed doubles. The other major he did well in was theWorld Hard Court Championships (played on clay) – he won the doubles with Henri Cochet there in 1922.
Borotra was ranked as high asworld No. 1 byBill Tilden in 1930, although Tilden didn't include himself in the ranking.[6] He was ranked No. 2 byA. Wallis Myers ofThe Daily Telegraph in 1926.[3] Borotra won his last major in 1936 when he teamed up withMarcel Bernard for the French Championship doubles at Roland Garros.
In 1974, Borotra was one of the last three people to be awarded the IOC'sOlympic Diploma of Merit.[7][8] And in 1976, he along with the three other Musketeers were inducted simultaneously into theInternational Tennis Hall of Fame inNewport, Rhode Island. In 1984, Borotra received a Distinguished Service award from the United States Sports Academy in recognition of his achievements. As the oldest living gentleman's singles champion, Borotra was invited to present the singles champion his trophy at the 100th Wimbledon Championship in 1986.[citation needed]
On 17 July 1994, 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 atArbonne.[9]
TheInternational Fair Play Committee, which recognises achievements annually, awards a Jean Borotra World Fair Play Trophy. In 1998, theInternational Club (IC) introduced theJean Borotra Sportsmanship Award, to recognise tennis players deemed to have shown outstanding sportsmanship throughout their career.
The Jean Borotra Sportsmanship Award is anInternational Club (IC) award. It was introduced in 1998 to recognise tennis players deemed to have shown outstanding sportsmanship throughout their career.[10]
The selection process involves a panel of international tennis journalists selecting a group of players who meet the IC's core value, namely to "develop, encourage and maintain the highest standards of sportsmanship and understanding among players of all nations and among young players in particular." The shortlist is then endorsed (or added to) by the 38 International Clubs around the world, from which a winner is picked.[11]
The recipient typically receives their award in a private ceremony in London at theAll England Club during theWimbledon Championships.[12]
In 1938 Borotra married Mabel de Forest and they had one son.[13] The couple divorced in 1947. In 1988 he married Janine Bourdin.[14]
A member ofFrançois de la Rocque'sParti social français (PSF), he became 1st General Commissioner for Education and Sports from August 1940 to April 1942 duringVichy France, leading theRévolution nationale's efforts in sports policy.[15]
Arrested by theGestapo in November 1942, Borotra was deported to a concentration camp in Germany and thenItter Castle inNorth Tyrol until May 1945. He was freed from the castle after theBattle of Castle Itter, in which he played a courageous role by vaulting from the fortress and running to a nearby town to summon reinforcements.[16]
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1924 | Wimbledon | Grass | René Lacoste | 6–1, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1925 | French Championships | Clay | René Lacoste | 5–7, 1–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 1925 | Wimbledon | Grass | René Lacoste | 3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–8 |
| Win | 1926 | Wimbledon | Grass |  Howard Kinsey | 8–6, 6–1, 6–3 |
| Loss | 1926 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | René Lacoste | 4–6, 0–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 1927 | Wimbledon | Grass | Henri Cochet | 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 4–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 1928 | Australian Championships | Grass |  Jack Cummings | 6–4, 6–1, 4–6, 5–7, 6–3 |
| Loss | 1929 | French Championships | Clay | René Lacoste | 3–6, 6–2, 0–6, 6–2, 6–8 |
| Loss | 1929 | Wimbledon | Grass | Henri Cochet | 4–6, 3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 1931 | French Championships | Clay | Christian Boussus | 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4 |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1925 | Wimbledon | Grass | Suzanne Lenglen | Elizabeth Ryan Uberto de Morpurgo | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Win | 1926 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Elizabeth Ryan | Hazel HotchkissRené Lacoste | 6–4, 7–5 |
| Loss | 1926 | French Championships | Clay | Nanette le Besnerais | Jacques BrugnonSuzanne Lenglen | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 1927 | French Championships | Clay | Marguerite Broquedis |  Lilí ÁlvarezBill Tilden | 6–4, 2–6, 6–2 |
| Win | 1928 | Australian Championships | Grass | Daphne Akhurst | Esna BoydJack Hawkes | default |
| Win | 1934 | French Championships | Clay | Colette Rosambert | Elizabeth RyanAdrian Quist | 6–2, 6–4 |
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
(OF) only for French club members
| 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | SR | W–L | Win % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | 4 / 26 | 103–22 | 82.4 | |||||||||||||||
| Australian | A | A | A | A | A | A | W | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1 / 1 | 6–0 | 100 |
| French | OF | F | SF | 4R | SF | F | SF | W | A | A | A | A | A | 1 / 7 | 29–6 | 82.9 | ||
| Wimbledon | 3R | 4R | W | F | W | F | QF | F | SF | SF | 4R | A | A | 2R | A | 2 / 12 | 55–10 | 84.6 |
| U.S. | A | A | 3R | 1R | F | QF | 3R | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 6 | 13–6 | 68.4 |
| Win–loss | 2–1 | 3–1 | 9–1 | 13–3 | 16–2 | 11–3 | 14–3 | 11–2 | 9–3 | 11–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | ||||||
| National representation | ||||||||||||||||||
| Olympics | NH | SF | Not held | 0 / 1 | 5–2 | 71.4 | ||||||||||||
