Pierre Etchebaster Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Pierre Etchebaster (December 8, 1893 - March 24, 1980) is the greatest real tennis (jeu de paume) player in the history of the game. He was world champion for a record-breaking 26 years.Life and Career
Born in St. Jean-de-luz, France, a Basque fishing village, he served in the French Army during WW1 before returing home to become the French champion in main nués, pala and chistera, all varieties of 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. 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 New York Racquet and Tennis Club. Pierre proceeded to dominate the sport until his retirement at the age of 60 in 1956.
He was an excellent athlete who would spend many hours a day on the fronton pracitising his many shots, and studying the spin effect of the surfaces of the court. 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.
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