A photograph circulating online depicting French tennis administrator Philippe Chatrier in his younger years as a player has sparked renewed interest in the legacy of the man for whom Roland Garros’ main court is named.
Chatrier, born February 2, 1928, in Créteil, France, was a professional tennis player before transitioning into sports journalism and administration. He achieved a career-high ranking of 6-17 in singles, reaching the third round of the French Open in 1949 and Wimbledon in 1951, and the first round of the US Open in 1955. He likewise competed in doubles, reaching the second round of Wimbledon in 1950 and 1953, and the fourth round of Wimbledon in mixed doubles in 1960.
He founded the French tennis magazine Tennis de France in 1953 and served as a sports and news editor for the Paris daily newspaper Paris-Presse. Chatrier’s influence extended to the organizational level of the sport, playing a key role in the merger of professional and amateur tennis organizations in 1968. He served as a vice president of the French Tennis Federation (Fédération française de tennis) from 1968 to 1973 and captained the French Davis Cup team in 1969.
Chatrier’s most significant contributions came during his tenures as president of the French Tennis Federation, from 1973 to 1993, and president of the International Tennis Federation, from 1977 to 1991. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1992. Chatrier died on June 23, 2000, in Dinard, France, at the age of 72.
The central court at Roland Garros was renamed Court Philippe Chatrier in his honor, solidifying his place in tennis history. He was married to tennis player Susan Partridge, later divorcing, and subsequently to French golfer Claudine Cros.
