Henri COCHET

Henri Cochet was the world’s #1 ranked player from 1928-31, and was considered one of the “Four Musketeers” that elevated the game in France, along with René Lacoste, Jean Borotra, and Jacques Brugnon. Cochet won seven of the current Grand Slam Championships, winning the French four times (1926, 1928, 1930, 1932), Wimbledon twice (1927, 1929), and the US Championship once (1928). In his era, he also won three other tournaments then considered majors, two World Covered Court Championships (1922-23), and one World Hard Court Championship (1922). Cochet turned professional in 1933 but without much success and was reinstated as an amateur in 1946.

In Davis Cup play Cochet and the Four Musketeers led France to six consecutive titles, from 1927-32. In doubles play he won five Grand Slams, the 1927, 1930, and 1932 French titles, and the 1926 and 1928 Wimbledon titles. Cochet spent part of World War II as a captive of the Nazis, but returned to play high-level tennis after the war, although not approaching his previous brilliance. He later ran a sporting goods store in Paris and coached the French youth tennis program. In 1951 Cochet was given the Red Ribbon of the French Legion of Honour for his sporting achievements. He and the entire Four Musketeers were inducted together into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1976.