Jean Borotra

Jean Laurent Robert Borotra (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ ʁɔbɛʁ bɔ.ʁotʁa], Basque pronunciation: [borotɾa]; 13
Jean Borotra
August 1898 – 17 July 1994) was a French tennis champion. He was one of the "Four Musketeers" from
his country who dominated tennis in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Borotra was imprisoned in Itter Castle
during the latter years of World War II and subsequently fought in the Battle for Castle Itter.[4]

Career
Borotra was born in Domaine du Pouy, Biarritz, Aquitaine, the oldest of four children.[5]

Known as "the Bounding Basque", he won four Grand Slam singles titles in the French, Australian, and All
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 the U.S.
Championships, as he was defeated in the final by his countryman René 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 the French Davis Cup team of
1921. He also made the final of the World Covered Court Championships in 1922, losing to Henri Cochet,
but won the doubles and mixed doubles. The other major he did well in was the World Hard Court
Jean Borotra in 1931
Championships (played on clay) – he won the doubles with Henri Cochet there in 1922.
Full name Jean Laurent Robert Borotra
Borotra was ranked as high as world No. 1 by Bill Tilden in 1930, although Tilden didn't include himself in Country (sports) France
the ranking.[6] He was ranked No. 2 by A. Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph in 1926.[3] Borotra won his
Born 13 August 1898
last major in 1936 when he teamed up with Marcel Bernard for the French Championship doubles at
Biarritz, France
Roland Garros.
Died 17 July 1994 (aged 95)
In 1974, Borotra was one of the last three people to be awarded the IOC's Olympic Diploma of Merit.[7][8] Arbonne, France
And in 1976, he along with the three other Musketeers were inducted simultaneously into the International Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. In 1984, Borotra received a Distinguished Service award Turned pro 1920 (amateur tour)
from the United States Sports Academy in recognition of his achievements. As the oldest living gentleman's
Retired 1956
singles champion, Borotra was invited to present the singles champion his trophy at the 100th Wimbledon
Championship in 1986. Plays Right-handed (one-handed
backhand)
On 17 July 1994, Borotra, founder and president of honour of the CIFP (International Committee for Fair Int. Tennis HoF 1976 (member page (https://w
Play) died at the age of 95, after a short illness. He was buried at Arbonne.[9] ww.tennisfame.com/hall-of-fa
mers/inductees/jean-borotra/))
The International Fair Play Committee, which recognises achievements annually, awards a Jean Borotra
World Fair Play Trophy. In 1998, the International Club (IC) introduced the Jean Borotra Sportsmanship Singles
Award, to recognise tennis players deemed to have shown outstanding sportsmanship throughout their Career record 654–127 (83.7%)[1]
career. Career titles 69[2]
Highest ranking No. 2 (1926, A. Wallis Myers)[3]
Jean Borotra Sportsmanship Award Grand Slam singles results
The Jean Borotra Sportsmanship Award is an International Club (IC) award. It was introduced in 1998 to Australian Open W (1928)
recognise tennis players deemed to have shown outstanding sportsmanship throughout their career.[10] French Open W (1931)

The selection process involves a panel of international tennis journalists selecting a group of players who Wimbledon W (1924, 1926)
meet the IC's core value, namely to "develop, encourage and maintain the highest standards of US Open F (1926)
sportsmanship and understanding among players of all nations and among young players in particular." The Other tournaments
shortlist is then endorsed (or added to) by the 38 International Clubs around the world, from which a WHCC SF (1922)
winner is picked.[11]
WCCC F (1922)
The recipient typically receives their award in a private ceremony in London at the All England Club Olympic Games SF – 4th (1924)
during the Wimbledon Championships.[12] Doubles
Career record incomplete

Personal life Highest ranking No. 1 (1925)

Grand Slam doubles results
In 1938 Borotra married Mabel de Forest and they had one son.[13] The couple divorced in 1947. In 1988 Australian Open W (1928)
he married Janine Bourdin.[14]
French Open W (1925, 1928, 1929, 1934,
1936)
A member of François de la Rocque's Parti social français (PSF), he became 1st General Commissioner
for Education and Sports from August 1940 to April 1942 during Vichy France, leading the Révolution Wimbledon W (1925, 1932, 1933)
nationale's efforts in sports policy.[15] Other doubles tournaments
WHCC W (1922)
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. He was freed from the castle after the Battle of Castle Itter, WCCC W (1922)
in which he played a courageous role by vaulting from the fortress and running to a nearby town to
summon reinforcements.[16] Mixed doubles
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open W (1928)
Grand Slam finals French Open W (1927, 1934)
Wimbledon W (1925)

Singles: 10 (4 titles, 6 runners-up) US Open W (1926)

Team competitions
Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Davis Cup W (1927, 1928, 1929, 1930,
6–1, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6– 1931, 1932)
Win 1924 Wimbledon Grass René Lacoste
4
Medal record
Loss 1925 French Championships Clay René Lacoste 5–7, 1–6, 4–6
Olympic Games
Loss 1925 Wimbledon Grass René Lacoste 3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–8
1924 Paris Doubles
Win 1926 Wimbledon Grass Howard Kinsey 8–6, 6–1, 6–3

U.S. National
Loss 1926 Grass René Lacoste 4–6, 0–6, 4–6
Championships

6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 4–6, 5–

Loss 1927 Wimbledon Grass Henri Cochet
7
6–4, 6–1, 4–6, 5–7, 6–
Win 1928 Australian Championships Grass Jack Cummings
3

3–6, 6–2, 0–6, 6–2, 6–

Loss 1929 French Championships Clay René Lacoste
8

Loss 1929 Wimbledon Grass Henri Cochet 4–6, 3–6, 4–6

Borotra at the 1924 French Championships.
Win 1931 French Championships Clay Christian Boussus 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4

Doubles: 12 (9 titles – 3 runners-up)

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score

Henri Cochet
Win 1925 French Championships Clay René Lacoste 7–5, 4–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
Jacques Brugnon

John Hennesey
Win 1925 Wimbledon Grass René Lacoste 6–4, 11–9, 4–6, 1–6, 6–3
Raymond Casey

Gar Moon
Win 1928 Australian Championships Grass Jacques Brugnon 6–2, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4
Jim Willard

Henri Cochet
Loss 1927 French Championships Clay René Lacoste 6–2, 2–6, 0–6, 6–1, 4–6
Jacques Brugnon

Henri Cochet
Win 1928 French Championships Clay Jacques Brugnon 6–4, 3–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–4
René de Buzelet

Henri Cochet
Win 1929 French Championships Clay René Lacoste 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 8–6
Jacques Brugnon

Pat Hughes
Win 1932 Wimbledon Grass Jacques Brugnon 6–0, 4–6, 3–6, 7–5, 7–5
Fred Perry

Ryosuki Nunoi
Win 1933 Wimbledon Grass Jacques Brugnon 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 7–5
Jiro Satoh

Jack Crawford
Win 1934 French Championships Clay Jacques Brugnon 11–9, 6–3, 2–6, 4–6, 9–7
Vivian McGrath
George Lott
Loss 1934 Wimbledon Grass Jacques Brugnon 2–6, 3–6, 4–6
Lester Stoefen

Pat Hughes
Win 1936 French Championships Clay Marcel Bernard 6–2, 3–6, 9–7, 6–1
Charles Tuckey

Don McNeill
Loss 1939 French Championships Clay Jacques Brugnon 6–4, 4–6, 0–6, 6–2, 8–10
Charles Harris

Mixed doubles: 5 titles

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score

Elizabeth Ryan
Win 1925 Wimbledon Grass Suzanne Lenglen 6–3, 6–3
Uberto de Morpurgo

Hazel Hotchkiss
Win 1926 U.S. National Championships Grass Elizabeth Ryan 6–4, 7–5
René Lacoste

Lilí Álvarez
Win 1927 French Championships Clay Marguerite Broquedis 6–4, 2–6, 6–2
Bill Tilden

Esna Boyd
Win 1928 Australian Championships Grass Daphne Akhurst default
Jack Hawkes

Elizabeth Ryan
Win 1934 French Championships Clay Colette Rosambert 6–2, 6–4
Adrian Quist
Performance timeline

Key

W F SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH

(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify;
(A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
(OF) only for French club members

1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 SR W–L W
Grand Slam tournaments 4 / 26 103–22 8
Australian A A A A A A W A A A A A A A A 1/1 6–0
French OF F SF 4R SF F SF W A A A A A 1/7 29–6 8
Wimbledon 3R 4R W F W F QF F SF SF 4R A A 2R A 2 / 12 55–10 8
U.S. A A 3R 1R F QF 3R A 1R A A A A A A 0/6 13–6 6

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 7

References
1. "Borotra, Jean: Career Match Records Main Tournaments" (https:// 7. Olympic Review, Issues 89-96. International Olympic Committee.
web.archive.org/web/20220725183236/https://app.thetennisbase.co 1975. p. 162.
m/?enlace=playern&player1=BOROTRA,%20JEAN&sub=2#aSubm 8. Olympic Charter 1983. Comite International Olympique. 1983.
enu). thetennisebase.com. The Tennisbase. Archived from the pp. 142–143.
original (https://app.thetennisbase.com/?enlace=playern&player1=B 9. Christopher Clarey (18 July 1994). "Jean Borotra Is Dead at 95;
OROTRA,%20JEAN&sub=2#aSubmenu) on 25 July 2022. One of Tennis's '4 Musketeers' " (https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/
Retrieved 2 November 2017. 18/obituaries/jean-borotra-is-dead-at-95-one-of-tennis-s-4-muskete
2. "Borotra, Jean: Career Match Records Main Tournaments" (https:// ers.html). The New York Times.
web.archive.org/web/20220725183236/https://app.thetennisbase.co 10. "IC Jean Borotra CQS Sportsmanship Award" (http://www.ictennis.n
m/?enlace=playern&player1=BOROTRA,%20JEAN&sub=2#aSubm et/Sportsmanship-Award#:~:text=IC%20Jean%20Borotra%20CQ
enu). thetennisebase.com. The Tennisbase. Archived from the S%20Sportsmanship,individual%20occasion%20of%20remarkabl
original (https://app.thetennisbase.com/?enlace=playern&player1=B e%20significance.). The International Club website. Retrieved
OROTRA,%20JEAN&sub=2#aSubmenu) on 25 July 2022. 18 July 2020.
Retrieved 17 September 2016.
11. "IC Jean Borotra CQS Sportsmanship Award – Gustavo Kuerten" (h
3. United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official ttp://www.ictennis.net/Sportsmanship-Award/2011-gustavo-kuerte
Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 424. n). The International Club website. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
4. "Jean Borotra" (https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/3). Olympedia. 12. "IC Jean Borotra CQS Sportsmanship Award – Gabriela Sabatini"
Retrieved 21 November 2021. (http://www.ictennis.net/Sportsmanship-Award/2017-gabriela-sabati
5. Adam Doster (14 June 2012). "Jean Borotra, The Most Interesting ni). The International Club website. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
Man in Tennis, Won 19 Grand Slams And Escaped A Nazi Prison" 13. "Borotra married" (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17383094). The
(https://deadspin.com/5918428/jean-borotra-the-most-interesting-m Sydney Morning Herald. No. 31, 065. 27 July 1937. p. 11 – via
an-in-tennis-won-19-grand-slams-and-escaped-a-nazi-prison). National Library of Australia.
Deadspin.
14. Laurie Pignon (17 July 1994). "Obituary: Jean Borotra" (https://ww
6. Kehrling, Béla, ed. (20 November 1930). "A világ legjobb tiz női w.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-jean-borotra-1414614.ht
jákétosa" (http://epa.oszk.hu/02100/02127/00035/pdf/EPA02127_te ml). The Independent. London.
nnis_es_golf_1930_2_021.pdf) [The top ten female players in the
world] (PDF). Tennisz és Golf (in Hungarian). Vol. II, no. 21. 15. Atkin, Nicholas (2014). The French at War: 1934–1944. Abingdon:
Budapest, Hungary: Bethlen Gábor irod. és Nyomdai Rt. p. 398. Routledge. p. 45. ISBN 978-0582368996.
Retrieved 16 November 2021. 16. Mayer, John G. (26 May 1945). "12th Men Free French Big-Wigs"
(http://www.lonesentry.com/newspapers/12tharmored/). Hellcat
News. 12th Armored Division.

External links

Tennis portal

Jean Borotra (https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/jean-borotra) at the International Tennis Hall of Fame

Jean Borotra (https://www.atptour.com/en/players/-/B820/overview) at the Association of Tennis Professionals
Jean Borotra (https://www.itftennis.com/en/players/jean-borotra/800169805/fra) at the International Tennis Federation
Jean Borotra (https://www.daviscup.com/en/players/player.aspx?id=800169805) at the Davis Cup
Jean Borotra (https://olympics.com/en/athletes/jean-r-borotra) at Olympics.com
Jean Borotra (https://web.archive.org/web/20190624175511/https://www.olympic.org/jean-borotra) at Olympic.org (archived)
Jean Borotra (https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/3) at Olympedia (archive (https://web.archive.org/web/20231231000000/https://www.olymp
edia.org/athletes/3))
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