Franjo Punčec
Encyclopedia
Franjo Punčec was a Croatian tennis player. He played for the Yugoslavia's team
at the International Lawn Tennis Challenge, and later the Davis Cup
, from 1933 to 1946. His greatest success was reaching semifinals of the French Open in 1938 where he lost against Czechoslovakian Roderich Menzel
and also semifinals of the Wimbledon
where he lost to American Don Budge
in the same year. In 1939 he again reached semifinals of the Wimbledon
but he lost to American Bobby Riggs
. He was the first Croatian ever to be placed in the ATP rankings list and his best ranking was 4th place in 1939.
Yugoslavia Davis Cup team
The Yugoslavia Davis Cup team competed from 1927–1992 and represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia , the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . It was organized by the Yugoslav Tennis Association...
at the International Lawn Tennis Challenge, and later the Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
, from 1933 to 1946. His greatest success was reaching semifinals of the French Open in 1938 where he lost against Czechoslovakian Roderich Menzel
Roderich Menzel
Roderich Ferdinand Ottomar Menzel was an amateur tennis player and after his active career an author.-Birth:...
and also semifinals of the Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
where he lost to American Don Budge
Don Budge
John Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional...
in the same year. In 1939 he again reached semifinals of the Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
but he lost to American Bobby Riggs
Bobby Riggs
Robert Larimore "Bobby" Riggs was a 1930s–40s tennis player who was the World No. 1 or the co-World No. 1 player for three years, first as an amateur in 1941, then as a professional in 1946 and 1947...
. He was the first Croatian ever to be placed in the ATP rankings list and his best ranking was 4th place in 1939.
External links
- History of Tennis in Croatia http://www.puncec-tenis.com/POVIJEST%20TENISA%20U%20HRVATSKOJ(1).pdf
- Franjo Punčec