Benjamin Berthet (18 September 1910 – 20 January 1981) was a French tennis player and coach.[1]
Full name | Benjamin Berthet |
---|---|
Country (sports) | France |
Born | New York, United States | 18 September 1910
Died | 20 January 1981 Paris, France | (aged 70)
Plays | Right-handed |
Singles | |
Grand Slam singles results | |
French Open | QF (1931) |
Wimbledon | 1R (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]