Henri Cochet
Henri Cochet was a prominent French tennis player, born on December 14, 1901, in Lyons, France. Introduced to tennis at a young age, he developed his skills by practicing against walls before officially playing on courts. Standing at 5 feet 6 inches tall, Cochet was known for his exceptional timing and touch on the court. He gained recognition in the early 1920s as a member of the legendary "Four Musketeers," alongside Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon, and René Lacoste, who collectively helped dominate international tennis in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Cochet's career highlights include winning five French Championships in singles, two Wimbledon titles, and one U.S. National Championship. His playing style was characterized by seemingly effortless strokes and an ability to maintain composure under pressure. Although he faced health challenges that affected his performance at times, he made a remarkable comeback in 1926 and continued to achieve significant victories. After transitioning to a professional career, Cochet's impact on the sport diminished, but he remained involved in tennis through various organizations. He passed away on April 1, 1987, leaving behind a legacy as one of tennis's greats.
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Subject Terms
Henri Cochet
Tennis Player
- Born: December 14, 1901
- Birthplace: Villeurbanne, near Lyon, France
- Died: April 1, 1987
- Place of death: St. Germain-en-Laye, France
Sport: Tennis
Early Life
Henri Jean Cochet was born on December 14, 1901, in Lyons, France. He was introduced to tennis at the age of seven. His father was the manager of the Lyons Lawn Tennis Club, and Henri acted as ball boy, so that he could get a closer look at the tennis matches. After the matches were over, he picked up an old racket and practiced against the wall. Henri practiced against a wall for two years before he was allowed to play on the courts with school friends. He loved the game and made steady improvement until he was the best young player in Lyons. Henri was thirteen when World War I started and the club was used by army trucks as a garage. After the war, he went back to playing tennis with more enthusiasm than ever.
The Road to Excellence
Henri stood only 5 feet 6 inches tall, and he usually found himself playing opponents who were larger and stronger. This challenge was a good experience for him, since it toughened his game and his resolve. Henri was becoming adept at taking the ball early and rushing to the net. Touch and timing were his greatest assets. In 1920, he won the Lyons Championship for the first time. His game was ready for Paris and beyond.
In 1921, Henri went to Paris, and entered its covered court championship. He and another unknown at the time, Jean Borotra, met in the final, and Henri prevailed easily. Borotra, along with Jacques Brugnon and René Lacoste, joined with Henri to become known as the Four Musketeers. These four players helped France to dominate the tennis world during the late 1920’s and the early part of the 1930’s. In 1922, Henri and Borotra became members of the French Davis Cup team, and a year later, all the Four Musketeers competed for their country on the team.
Henri won his first of five French Championships in singles in 1922. Always a quiet man, who, at times, gave the impression of disinterest during a match, Henri surprised many an opponent with his capacity to turn the tide in his favor with his seemingly effortless strokes. He was not one for hard practice or for unnecessary movement during a match. Timing was the key to his game, and he was able to refine it to near perfection.
The Emerging Champion
In 1923, Henri played on the French Davis Cup team against Denmark, Ireland, and Switzerland, but he did not travel to the United States or to Wimbledon to compete for the championships there. Henri lost to Lacoste in the 1924 French Championships and to Vincent Richards in the finals of the Olympics. Most observers could see that Henri was not himself and that he was not in good health. For some months he suffered from influenza. As a natural player when his game was on, he was almost unbeatable; when his game was off, however, he became prey to many of lesser abilities. In 1925, Henri did not play any Davis Cup matches and entered a minimum number of tournaments. Journalists were even beginning to talk of him as nearing the end of his career.
Henri was not on his way out, but about to start the greatest phase of his career. In 1926, he beat both Richards and Lacoste to capture the French Championship singles title. The most stunning match of the year was Henri’s victory over Bill Tilden in the quarterfinals of the U.S. National Championship at Forest Hills, New York. Lacoste eventually won the title, but Henri had served notice that he was back and playing inspired tennis.
Henri had won the Wimbledon doubles title that year, but it was not until 1927 that he broke through to take the singles title. He won Wimbledon in a dramatic fashion by rallying back from having lost the first two sets of each of his last three matches. He played Frank Hunter, Tilden, and Borotra in a row and snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat in each match. With Henri and the other Musketeers on the French Davis Cup team, France won its first Davis Cup by defeating the United States. France did not surrender the Cup until 1933.
Continuing the Story
The Four Musketeers dominated tennis in 1928. Henri won both the French and U.S. singles titles, while Borotra won in Australia, and Lacoste beat Henri to win Wimbledon. The French ruled the tennis world, and Henri was the greatest of the French. Tilden stated that Henri was possibly the best ever to play the game. In 1929, Henri became even more indispensable to the Davis Cup team with the retirement of Lacoste. Henri also captured his second Wimbledon singles title that year. His amateur career lasted through 1932 after he had amassed two Wimbledon titles, five French Championship singles titles, and one U.S. National Championship. Henri turned professional after France lost to Great Britain in the Davis Cup competition in 1933.
Henri’s professional career could not live up to the standards he had set during his amateur days. Henri got the chance to play Tilden again, since Tilden had already turned professional, but the natural gifts and inspiration that had taken him to the top of the amateur ranks were not there with the same intensity. His professional career was of little consequence, and after World War II, Henri was reinstated into the amateur ranks. The glory years were over, but he did manage to win a number of tournaments. He won his last title of significance in 1950, when he and Jaroslav Drobny captured the British Covered Court Championship doubles title.
Henri made the most of his time outside competitive tennis, never really giving up the hold that the game had on him, through activity in various tennis organizations. He ran a successful sporting goods business and also traveled as a French representative of the Ministry of National Education. After a long illness, Henri died on April 1, 1987, in St. Germain-en-Laye, France.
Summary
Most experts agree that Henri Cochet was a tennis genius. His strokes looked effortless and his timing was impeccable. No one else could hit low volleys or half-volleys with the precision that Henri did. Along with the other members of the Four Musketeers, Henri took French tennis to the pinnacle during the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. Neither France nor any other country has produced another all-court player who looked as naturally suited to the game as Henri.
Bibliography
Collins, Bud. Total Tennis: The Ultimate Tennis Encyclopedia. Toronto: Sport Media, 2003.
Fein, Paul. Tennis Confidential: Today’s Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies. Washington, D.C.: Brassey’s, 2002.
Parsons, John. The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Tennis: The Definitive Illustrated Guide to World Tennis. London: Carlton, 2006.
Wilner, Barry, and Ken Rappoport. Harvard Beats Yale 29-29, and Other Great Comebacks from the Annals of Sports. Lanham, Md.: Taylor Trade, 2008.