Marcel Bernard

Marcel Bernard (French pronunciation: ​[maʁsɛl bɛʁnaʁ]; 18 May 1914 – 29 April 1994) was a French tennis player. He is best remembered for having won the French Championships in 1946 (reaching the semifinals a further three times). Bernard initially intended to play only in the doubles event but was persuaded to enter the singles competition as well.[2] He defeated Jaroslav Drobný in the final in five sets.

Marcel Bernard
Country (sports) France
Born(1914-05-18)18 May 1914
La Madeleine, Nord, France
Died29 April 1994(1994-04-29) (aged 79)
Paris, France
Turned pro1930 (amateur tour)
Retired1956
PlaysLeft-handed (one-handed backhand)
Singles
Highest rankingNo. 5 (1946, A. Wallis Myers)[1]
Grand Slam Singles results
French OpenW (1946)
Wimbledon3R (1934, 1937)
US Open3R (1932)
Doubles
Grand Slam Doubles results
French OpenW (1936, 1946)
WimbledonQF (1935)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
French OpenW (1935, 1936)
Wimbledon4R (1937)

In the same 1946 French Championships Bernard also won the Men's Doubles with Yvon Petra. In the 1935 French Open, he won the Mixed Doubles with Lolette Payot. In the following French Open (1936), he also won the Mixed Doubles with Billie Yorke and the Men's Doubles with Jean Borotra. Bernard's Grand Slam singles career spanned 25 years from 1931 to 1956. He played Davis Cup for France over a period spanning 21 years, from 1935 to 1956. Bernard was ranked World No. 5 for 1946 by A. Wallis Myers and World No. 9 for 1947 by Harry Hopman.[1][3]

Bernard later became president of the French Tennis Federation. The French Open Mixed Doubles Cup is now known as the "Coupe Marcel Bernard". His name is also commemorated at the Roland-Garros Stadium by the walkway "Allée Marcel Bernard" which leads to the Suzanne Lenglen Court.

Grand Slam finals

Singles : 1 title
Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Win1946French ChampionshipsClay Jaroslav Drobný3–6, 2–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–3

Doubles : 2 titles, 1 runner-up
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss1932French ChampionshipsClay Christian Boussus Jacques Brugnon
Henri Cochet		4–6, 6–3, 5–7, 3–6
Win1936French ChampionshipsClay Jean Borotra Pat Hughes
Charles Tuckey		6–2, 3–6, 9–7, 6–1
Win1946French ChampionshipsClay Yvon Petra Enrique Morea
Pancho Segura		7–5, 6–3, 0–6, 1–6, 10–8

Mixed doubles : 2 titles
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win1935French ChampionshipsClay Lolette Payot Sylvie Jung Henrotin
André Martin-Legeay		4–6, 6–2, 6–4
Win1936French ChampionshipsClay Billie Yorke Sylvie Jung Henrotin
André Martin-Legeay		7–5, 6–8, 6–3

References
  1. United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 425.
  2. Collins, Bud (2016). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (3rd ed.). New York: New Chapter Press. p. 721. ISBN 978-1-937559-38-0.
  3. "World's Best 10 in Tennis", The Courier-Mail, 3 February 1947.
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