Benjamin Berthet (18 September 1910 – 20 January 1981) was a French

tennis Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball ...

player and coach. Berthet was born to Polish-Jewish emigrants in New York and moved to France as a nine-year old. In 1931 he made the singles quarter-finals of the

French Championships The French Open (french: Internationaux de France de tennis), also known as Roland-Garros (), is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, beginning in late May each year. The tournament and ven ...

, losing to the top seed

Jean Borotra Jean Laurent Robert Borotra (, ; 13 August 1898 – 17 July 1994) was a French tennis champion. He was one of the " Four Musketeers" from his country who dominated tennis in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Borotra was imprisoned in Itter Castle ...

. Berthet's title wins included the Polish International Championships. A jeweller by profession, Berthet fought with the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

and became a prisoner of war in 1941. During his captivity at Oflag IV-D he and other prisoners build tennis courts to play on. Berthet continued to compete after the war until his appointment as non playing captain of the

France Davis Cup team The France men's national tennis team (french: Équipe de France de Coupe Davis) represents France in Davis Cup tennis competition, and is governed by the Fédération Française de Tennis. France competed in their first Davis Cup in 1904. Fr ...

in 1954. He held this role for a then record 11-years, before being replaced by Gérard Pilet after the 1955 campaign.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Berthet, Benny 1910 births 1981 deaths French male tennis players Tennis players from New York (state) American emigrants to France French people of Polish-Jewish descent French Army personnel of World War II French prisoners of war in World War II Jewish tennis players