 | |
| Full name | Yvon François Marie Petra |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  France |
| Born | 8 March 1916 |
| Died | 12 September 1984(1984-09-12) (aged 68) Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France |
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) |
| Turned pro | 1948 (amateur from 1935) |
| Retired | 1955 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 2016(member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 179-65 (73.3%)[1] |
| Career titles | 18[1] |
| Highest ranking | No. 4 (1946,A. Wallis Myers)[2] |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| French Open | SF (1946) |
| Wimbledon | W (1946) |
| US Open | 4R (1936,1937,1938) |
| Professional majors | |
| US Pro | 1R (1950) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 0–1 |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| French Open | W (1938, 1946) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1947) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| French Open | W (1937) |
| Wimbledon | F (1937) |
| US Open | F (1937) |
Yvon Petra (French pronunciation:[ivɔ̃petʁa]; 8 March 1916 – 12 September 1984) was a French maletennis player. He was born inCholon, French Indochina.
Petra is best remembered as the last Frenchman to win theWimbledon Championships men's singles title (in 1946), beatingGeoff Brown in five sets in the final. In doubles, he won the French Championships twice, in 1938 withBernard Destremau, defeating the best pair in the worldBudge-Mako, and in 1946 withMarcel Bernard. In 1938, he won the singles and doubles title at the French Covered Court Championships.[3] He was aprisoner of war in World War II and after his release won threeTournoi de France singles titles from 1943 through 1945.[4][5] He emigrated to the United States and worked as a tennis pro at theSaddle and Cycle Club inChicago and a country club in Connecticut towards the end of his life. Petra was ranked world No. 4 for 1946 byA. Wallis Myers and world No. 8 for 1947 byHarry Hopman.[2][6] He was the last man to wear long trousers in a Wimbledon final and was the last Frenchman to win the singles title.[7]
Petra joined the tour of professional players in 1948.[8] He was inducted intoInternational Tennis Hall of Fame in 2016.[9]
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1946 | Wimbledon | Grass |  Geoff Brown | 6–2, 6–4, 7–9, 5–7, 6–2 |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1938 | French Championships | Clay | Bernard Destremau |  Don BudgeGene Mako | 3–6, 6–3, 9–7, 6–1 |
| Win | 1946 | French Championships | Clay | Marcel Bernard |  Enrique MoreaPancho Segura | 7–5, 6–3, 0–6, 1–6, 10–8 |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1937 | French Championships | Clay | Simonne Mathieu |  Marie-Louise HornRoland Journu | 7–5, 7–5 |
| Loss | 1937 | Wimbledon | Grass | Simonne Mathieu | Alice MarbleDon Budge | 4–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 1937 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Sylvie Jung Henrotin | Sarah Palfrey Don Budge | 2–6, 10–8, 0–6 |
