Pierre Etchebaster
Encyclopedia
Pierre Etchebaster is widely considered history's greatest player of real tennis
(in France jeu de paume
), the original racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis (which has usurped the name "tennis"), is descended.
Born in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
, France
, a Basque
fishing village, he served in the French Army during World War I
before returning home to become the French champion in main nués, pala and chistera, all varieties of Basque pelota.
In 1922, Etchebaster was encouraged by tennis player Jacques Worth (a president of a Paris
court club) to take up the game of real tennis. His first time on the court was during his audition to be the head professional of the club. After a few minutes of play, he was selected to fill the role. George Plimpton wrote that this was equivalent to "picking up a baseball bat in the morning and playing for the New York Yankees in the afternoon."
Despite losing to Fred Covey
in 1927, Etchebaster returned in his customary blue beret
to win the world championship in London
in 1928. He emigrated to New York City
in 1930 where he played as a professional
at the Racquet and Tennis Club
. Etchebaster proceeded to dominate the sport. He was world champion for a record-breaking 26 years (1928–1954) until his retirement at the age of 60. He defended the title seven times — a feat unmatched until 2006 when Robert Fahey
made his seventh title defense (Fahey has now (2010) successfully defended his title nine times).
He was an excellent athlete who would spend hours a day on court practising his many shots, and studying the spin effects of the various surfaces of the court had on the ball. In 1955 he was awarded the Légion d'honneur
for his achievements, and in 1978 he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
.
Some years after his retirement a book of his coaching advice, Pierre's Book, was published. It including accolades from many of the world's best players. He died in Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
While Etchbaster was still at his peak he was nevertheless hard pressed financially. For several years after WWII he rented a dusty clay court behind a diner in Glen Cove, NY, where he gave lawn tennis lessons to high school students in the area -- for $10 an hour.
The Racquet & Tennis Club made a video (1954) featuring Etchebaster, Ogden Phipps, Francis X. Shields, and Alastair B. Martin, playing singles and doubles. Hayward Hale Broun appears in it, sporting a CBS microphone.
Pierre's Book (Barre Publishers, Barre MA 1971) was Edited and Introduced by George Plimpton.
Real tennis
Real tennis – one of several games sometimes called "the sport of kings" – is the original indoor racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis , is descended...
(in France jeu de paume
Jeu de paume
Jeu de paume is a ball-and-court game that originated in France. It was an indoor precursor of tennis played without racquets, though these were eventually introduced. It is a former Olympic sport, and has the oldest ongoing annual world championship in sport, first established over 250 years ago...
), the original racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis (which has usurped the name "tennis"), is descended.
Born in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.Saint-Jean-de-Luz is part of the province Basque of Labourd and the Basque Eurocity Bayonne - San Sebastian .-Geography:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, a Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
fishing village, he served in the French Army during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
before returning home to become the French champion in main nués, pala and chistera, all varieties of Basque pelota.
In 1922, Etchebaster was encouraged by tennis player Jacques Worth (a president of a Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
court club) to take up the game of real tennis. His first time on the court was during his audition to be the head professional of the club. After a few minutes of play, he was selected to fill the role. George Plimpton wrote that this was equivalent to "picking up a baseball bat in the morning and playing for the New York Yankees in the afternoon."
Despite losing to Fred Covey
Fred Covey
Fred Covey , born Geoffrey Frederick Covey, in Woolwich, England, was world champion from 1912 to 1914 and from 1916 until 1928 at real tennis, the original racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis , is descended.Covey was a professional, who, apart from service in the Great War,...
in 1927, Etchebaster returned in his customary blue beret
Beret
A beret is a soft, round, flat-crowned hat, designated a "cap", usually of woven, hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, or wool felt, or acrylic fiber....
to win the world championship in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1928. He emigrated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1930 where he played as a professional
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
at the Racquet and Tennis Club
Racquet and Tennis Club
The Racquet and Tennis Club is a private social club and athletic club located at 370 Park Avenue, between East 52nd and 53rd Streets, New York, New York.-Building:...
. Etchebaster proceeded to dominate the sport. He was world champion for a record-breaking 26 years (1928–1954) until his retirement at the age of 60. He defended the title seven times — a feat unmatched until 2006 when Robert Fahey
Robert Fahey
Robert Fahey is an Australian real tennis player.On 27 April 2006, at the Oratory Tennis Club in Woodcote, South Oxfordshire, he matched the great Pierre Etchebaster's feat of seven consecutive defenses of the real tennis singles World Championship, which he has held since 1994...
made his seventh title defense (Fahey has now (2010) successfully defended his title nine times).
He was an excellent athlete who would spend hours a day on court practising his many shots, and studying the spin effects of the various surfaces of the court had on the ball. In 1955 he was awarded the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
for his achievements, and in 1978 he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The hall of fame and honors players and contributors to the sport of tennis and includes a museum, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.-History:The hall of fame and...
.
Some years after his retirement a book of his coaching advice, Pierre's Book, was published. It including accolades from many of the world's best players. He died in Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
While Etchbaster was still at his peak he was nevertheless hard pressed financially. For several years after WWII he rented a dusty clay court behind a diner in Glen Cove, NY, where he gave lawn tennis lessons to high school students in the area -- for $10 an hour.
The Racquet & Tennis Club made a video (1954) featuring Etchebaster, Ogden Phipps, Francis X. Shields, and Alastair B. Martin, playing singles and doubles. Hayward Hale Broun appears in it, sporting a CBS microphone.
Pierre's Book (Barre Publishers, Barre MA 1971) was Edited and Introduced by George Plimpton.