Philippe Chatrier

Philippe Chatrier was a known French tennis player. He was born on February 2, 1926 and passed away in June 22, 2000. He was born in Cretell, France, and he became a Champion in the French junior level by 1945. His first wife was Susan Patridge, who was also a tennis champion in 1953. After their divorce, Chatrier married Claudine Cros, a French golfer.

Chatrier became a part of the amateur and professional tennis organizations’ merger that happened in 1968. He then became the vice-president of the FTF or the French Tennis Federation from 1968 until 1973. In 1969, he was also the captain of the Davis Cup team that represented France. After serving as vice-president for a number of years, Chatrier stepped up and became the president of the French Tennis Federation by 1973.

It was under his direction that the dream of reintroducing tennis into the Olympics became a reality. This happened in 1981, and although it was still a demonstration sport in 1984, it became a full Olympic sport by Summer Olympic Games in 1988 which was held in Seoul. By the time tennis was a full time sport at the Olympics, Chatrier became a member of the International Olympic Committee.

In time, he became the president of the International Tennis Federation, but he stepped down from his post in 1991. By 1992, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and a year later, he retired from his presidential post at the French Tennis Federation.

In 2001, years after his death in Dinard, the main tennis court located at Stade de Roland Garros was renamed as the Court Philippe Chatrier. This stadium is known as the home of the French Open.