Umberto De Morpurgo
Encyclopedia
Baron Umberto Louis De Morpurgo (January 12, 1896 – February 26, 1961) was a male tennis
player from Italy
.
De Morpurgo was born in Trieste
when it was part of Austria
, but became an Italian
citizen when the city changed hands after World War I
. He was ranked in the World’s Top 10 1928-30 —- 9th in 1928, 10th in 1929, and 8th in 1930. American tennis icon Bill Tilden
ranked him 10th in the world in 1924, and 6th in the world in 1929.
in 1911, and student champion in Paris in 1915. He was Italy’s # 1 ranked tennis player in 1927, and in 1929 through 1931. The American Tennis magazine labeled Baron de Morpurgo “the Tilden of his country.”
In 1929, the Baron was named Italian Commissioner of Tennis by Benito Mussolini
.
de Morpurgo defeated France’s Jean Borotra
, the reigning Wimbledon
Singles Champion, to win the bronze medal
in the men's singles event.
team in 1922, and played on every Italian Davis Cup team through 1933. He won 39 singles matches and lost 14, while in doubles he was 16-10.
in 1993.http://books.google.com/books?id=oZxnNt28DhcC&pg=PA167&lpg=PA167&dq=Umberto+De+Morpurgo+jewish+hall+of+fame&source=bl&ots=zcpJ4ah-Fn&sig=Voo4fE-1R30wunTwe9C0TDXUnQw&hl=en&ei=UUNQTZznK4OcgQfn_7go&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
De Morpurgo was born in Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
when it was part of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, but became an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
citizen when the city changed hands after 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...
. He was ranked in the World’s Top 10 1928-30 —- 9th in 1928, 10th in 1929, and 8th in 1930. American tennis icon Bill Tilden
Bill Tilden
William Tatem Tilden II , nicknamed "Big Bill," is often considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. An American tennis player who was the World No. 1 player for seven years, he won 14 Majors including ten Grand Slams and four Pro Slams. Bill Tilden dominated the world of...
ranked him 10th in the world in 1924, and 6th in the world in 1929.
Tennis career
De Morpurgo was junior champion in Great BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in 1911, and student champion in Paris in 1915. He was Italy’s # 1 ranked tennis player in 1927, and in 1929 through 1931. The American Tennis magazine labeled Baron de Morpurgo “the Tilden of his country.”
In 1929, the Baron was named Italian Commissioner of Tennis by Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
.
Olympics
At the 1924 Paris Olympics1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
de Morpurgo defeated France’s Jean Borotra
Jean Borotra
Jean Robert Borotra was a French champion tennis player. He was one of the famous "Four Musketeers" from his country who dominated tennis in the late 1920s and early 1930s.-Career:...
, the reigning 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...
Singles Champion, to win the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in the men's singles event.
Davis Cup
De Morpurgo was a member of Italy’s first-ever Davis CupDavis 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...
team in 1922, and played on every Italian Davis Cup team through 1933. He won 39 singles matches and lost 14, while in doubles he was 16-10.
Playing style
De Morpurgo used a terrific very fast serve on his first ball, and an exaggerated American twist serve on the second serve which was of extreme contortion. His baseline game consisted of flat drives. He had an excellent net attack, owing to his great reach. His overhead, like his service, was hard but erratic.Hall of Fame
De Morpurgo, who was Jewish, was inducted as a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of FameInternational Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
in 1993.http://books.google.com/books?id=oZxnNt28DhcC&pg=PA167&lpg=PA167&dq=Umberto+De+Morpurgo+jewish+hall+of+fame&source=bl&ots=zcpJ4ah-Fn&sig=Voo4fE-1R30wunTwe9C0TDXUnQw&hl=en&ei=UUNQTZznK4OcgQfn_7go&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false