Borotra, Jean-Robert

▪ 1995

      French tennis player (b. Aug. 13, 1898, Arbonne, near Biarritz, France—d. July 17, 1994, Arbonne), was one of the renowned "Four Musketeers"—Borotra, René Lacoste, Jacques Brugnon, and Henri Cochet—who dominated amateur tennis in the 1920s and early '30s. As a group they won the Davis Cup for France for six consecutive years (1927-32) and reached the finals in 1925, 1926, and 1933. As an individual Borotra won 19 Grand Slam titles. Nicknamed "the Bounding Basque," he was as well known for his exuberance and his omnipresent blue beret as for his unorthodox serve-and-volley style of play. He won the French championship nine times—singles in 1924 and 1931, men's doubles in 1925, 1928, 1929, 1934, and 1936, and mixed doubles in 1927 and 1934; six All-England (Wimbledon) titles—singles in 1924 and 1926, doubles in 1925, 1932, and 1933, and mixed doubles in 1925; the U.S. mixed doubles in 1926; and three Australian titles in 1928—singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. He also won the French indoor championship 12 times, was on the Davis Cup team as late as 1947, and played competitive tennis into his 80s. Borotra trained as a civil engineer and was a company director for more than 40 years (1930-75). He was minister of sport (1940-42) in the Vichy government of Nazi-occupied France, but his wartime collaboration had little effect on his reputation or his popularity. Borotra was awarded the Legion of Honour and was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame (1976).

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