The French Pro Championship was a major tennis tournament founded in 1930 by the "Association Française des Professeurs de Tennis (AFPT)" and ran annually until 1968 when it was discontinued.

History

In 1930, the "Association Française des Professeurs de Tennis (AFPT)" held its first pro tournament, titled "Championnat International de France Professionnel" (French Pro Championships) June 18–22, 1930, and is considered as a part of the professional major from 1927 to 1967 till the advent of Open Era. The tournament only had a men's draw.[citation needed]

From 1930 the French Pro Championship were always played at Paris, on outdoor clay at Roland Garros except from 1963 to 1967 where it was held at Stade Pierre de Coubertin on indoor wood. Ken Rosewall holds the record for 8 wins overall and 7 consecutive wins.

There was a professional tournament at Roland Garros in 1952 held on a round robin basis, in which Segura finished first, winning the decider over Pancho Gonzales, Kramer third, and Budge fourth. There is no indication yet of recognition by the AFPT as the official French Pro.

There were tournaments played on indoor cement in 1950 and 1953 at the Palais des Sports. They are listed in the table below, but there is no suggestion that they were seen as official French Pro titles.

Champions

Singles

YearChampionRunner-upScoreVenueSurface
Professional Era
1930Czechoslovakia Karel KoželuhRepublic of Ireland Albert Burke6–1, 6–2, 6–1Roland GarrosClay
1931France Martin PlaaFrance Robert Ramillon6–3, 6–1, 3–6, 6–2Roland GarrosClay
1932France Robert RamillonFrance Martin Plaa6–4, 3–6, 8–6, 6–4Roland GarrosClay
1933Not held
1934United States Bill TildenFrance Martin Plaa6–2, 6–4, 7–5Roland GarrosClay
1935United States Ellsworth VinesGermany Hans Nüsslein10–8, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1Roland GarrosClay
1936France Henri CochetFrance Robert Ramillon6–3, 6–1, 6–1Roland GarrosClay
1937Germany Hans NüssleinFrance Henri Cochet6–2, 8–6, 6–3Roland GarrosClay
1938Germany Hans NüssleinUnited States Bill Tilden6–0, 6–1, 6–2Roland GarrosClay
1939United States Don BudgeUnited States Ellsworth Vines6–2, 7–5, 6–3Roland GarrosClay
1940–1949Not held
1950Ecuador Pancho Segura*United States Jack KramerPalais des SportsHard (i)
1951Not held
1952Ecuador Pancho Segura*United States Jack Kramer6-3, 6-2Roland GarrosClay
1953Australia Frank Sedgman*United States Pancho GonzalesPalais des SportsHard (i)
1954–1955Not held
1956United States Tony TrabertUnited States Pancho Gonzales6–3, 4–6, 5–7, 8–6, 6–2Roland GarrosClay
1957Not held
1958Australia Ken RosewallAustralia Lew Hoad3–6, 6–2, 6–4, 6–0Roland GarrosClay
1959United States Tony TrabertAustralia Frank Sedgman6–4, 6–4, 6–4Roland GarrosClay
1960Australia Ken RosewallAustralia Lew Hoad6–2, 2–6, 6–2, 6–1Roland GarrosClay
1961Australia Ken RosewallUnited States Pancho Gonzales2–6, 6–4, 6–3, 8–6Roland GarrosClay
1962Australia Ken RosewallSpain Andrés Gimeno3–6, 6–2, 7–5, 6–2Roland GarrosClay
1963Australia Ken RosewallAustralia Rod Laver6–8, 6–4, 5–7, 6–3, 6–4Stade Pierre de CoubertinWood (i)
1964Australia Ken RosewallAustralia Rod Laver6–3, 7–5, 3–6, 6–3Stade Pierre de CoubertinWood (i)
1965Australia Ken RosewallAustralia Rod Laver6–3, 6–2, 6–4Stade Pierre de CoubertinWood (i)
1966Australia Ken RosewallAustralia Rod Laver6–3, 6–2, 14–12Stade Pierre de CoubertinWood (i)
1967Australia Rod LaverSpain Andrés Gimeno6–4, 8–6, 4–6, 6–2Stade Pierre de CoubertinWood (i)
Open Era
1968Australia Rod LaverAustralia John Newcombe6–2, 6–2, 6–3Roland GarrosClay

Notes:

Doubles

YearChampionRunner-upScoreVenueSurface
Professional Era
1930Czechoslovakia Karel Koželuh Germany Roman NajuchRepublic of Ireland Albert Burke Republic of Ireland Edmund Burke6–4, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1Roland GarrosClay
1931Roland GarrosClay
1932Roland GarrosClay
1933Not held
1934Roland GarrosClay
1935United States Bill Tilden United States Ellsworth VinesRepublic of Ireland Albert Burke Germany Hans Nüsslein6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 6–4Roland GarrosClay
1936France Henri Cochet Republic of Ireland Albert BurkeFrance Martin Plaa France Robert Ramillon6–1, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3Roland GarrosClay
1937United States Lester Stoefen United States Bill TildenFrance Henri Cochet France Robert Ramillon6–4, 3–6, 6–2, 6–3Roland GarrosClay
1938France Martin Plaa France Robert RamillonGermany Hans Nüsslein United States Bill Tilden6–3, 4–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4Roland GarrosClay
1939United States Don Budge United States Ellsworth VinesFrance Henri Cochet France Robert Ramillon6–4, 6–4, 2–6, 6–4Roland GarrosClay
1940–1949Not held
1950Palais des SportsHard (i)
1951Not held
1952Roland GarrosClay
1953United States Don Budge* Australia Frank Sedgman*United States Pancho Gonzales Ecuador Pancho Segura2–6, 9–7, 6–4Palais des SportsHard (i)
1954–1955Not held
1956United States Pancho Gonzales United States Tony TrabertAustralia Rex Hartwig Australia Frank Sedgman6–3, 2–6, 6–1Roland GarrosClay
1957Not held
1958Australia Lew Hoad United States Tony TrabertUnited States Pancho Gonzales Australia Ken Rosewall6–4, 2–6, 6–1Roland GarrosClay
1959Australia Lew Hoad United States Tony TrabertAustralia Mervyn Rose Australia Frank Sedgman14–12, 6–4, 6–2Roland GarrosClay
1960Australia Lew Hoad United States Tony TrabertAustralia Ken Rosewall Australia Frank Sedgman6–4, 6–0, 6–1Roland GarrosClay
1961Australia Lew Hoad Australia Ken RosewallUnited States Pancho Gonzales United States Tony Trabert6–1, 6–3, 8–10, 13–11Roland GarrosClay
1962Australia Lew Hoad Australia Ken RosewallAustralia Mal Anderson Australia Ashley Cooper6–1, 6–3, 6–3Roland GarrosClay
1963Australia Lew Hoad Australia Ken RosewallAustralia Mal Anderson Australia Rod Laver6–2, 7–5, 8–6Stade Pierre de CoubertinWood (i)
1964Australia Lew Hoad Australia Ken RosewallChile Luis Ayala Spain Andrés Gimeno6–8, 6–4, 6–4Stade Pierre de CoubertinWood (i)
1965Australia Mal Anderson Australia Ken RosewallUnited States Butch Buchholz Australia Rod Laver10–8, 4–6, 8–6, 2–6, 10–8Stade Pierre de CoubertinWood (i)
1966United States Butch Buchholz Australia Rod LaverFrance Pierre Barthès Spain Andrés Gimeno6–3, 6–3, 6–4Stade Pierre de CoubertinWood (i)
1967France Pierre Barthès Spain Andrés GimenoAustralia Rod Laver Australia Fred Stolle6–3, 6–4Stade Pierre de CoubertinWood (i)
Open Era
1968Australia Roy Emerson Australia Rod LaverAustralia Ken Rosewall Australia Fred Stolle1–6, 3–6, 11–9, 6–3, 6–2Roland GarrosClay

Source:

Bristol Cup and other French professional events

Before 1930 some tournaments were sometimes labelled "Professional Championships of France": the Bristol Cup (held from 1920 to 1932), the most important pro tournament in the world in the 1920s, was sometimes referred as the French Pro as well as the World Pro tournament held at Deauville in 1925. Therefore, two different tournaments were both considered as French Pro Championships in 1925 (World Pro at Deauville and Bristol Cup at Cannes) and from 1930 to 1932 (Roland Garros and Bristol Cup at Beaulieu).

Records

Men's singles

Source: French Pro Championships, (1930–68): The Tennisbase included

Most titlesAustralia Ken Rosewall8
Most finalsAustralia Ken Rosewall8
Most consecutive titlesAustralia Ken Rosewall (1960 - 1966)7
Most consecutive finalsAustralia Ken Rosewall (1960 - 1966)7
Most matches playedAustralia Ken Rosewall32
Most matches wonAustralia Ken Rosewall30
Most consecutive matches wonAustralia Ken Rosewall25
Most editions playedAustralia Ken Rosewall11
Best winning%Australia Ken Rosewall93.75%
Title won with the fewest games lostCzechoslovakia Karel Koželuh20 (1930)
Youngest championUnited States Don Budge23y, 7m, 14d (1939)
Oldest championUnited States Bill Tilden41y, 7m, 7d (1934)
Longest final
1963 (55 games)
Australia Ken Rosewall66566
Australia Rod Laver84734
Shortest final
1938 (21 games)
Germany Hans Nüsslein666
United States Bill Tilden012

See also

Bibliography

  • McCauley, Joe (2000). The History of Professional Tennis. Windsor: The Short Run Book Company Limited.