Jean Lacoste

Jean Rene Lacoste , born 2nd of July, 1904, died on October 12, 1996. More commonly known as "the Crocodile" or "the Alligator". He is most famous for being the namesake of the Lacoste tennis shirt which he introduced in the year 1929.

By 1923, he was chosed to his country's Davis cup team together with Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon, and Henri Cochet. They were commonly known as the legendary "Four Musketeers".

In 1924, he reached his first major final at Wimbledon. He lost to his countryman Borotra in five sets but won the title in the following year in a rematch. It was his second victory since he won the French Championships in that year too.

In 1926, the French Davis Cup finally reached the World Group but lost to the US tem, 4-1. Lacosted scored a stirring upset over Big Bill Tilden in four sets, 4-6, 6-4, 8-6, 8-6. Lacoste's win marked Tilden's first Davis Cup loss in 17 matches.

Lacoste stepped down from Davis Cup duty on 1928 after he lost to Tilden and retired from competition the following year. Lacoste remained close to tennis as a captain of the Davis Cup team and led France to victory in 1931-32.

French Championships

Singles champion: 1925, 1927, 1929
Singles finalist: 1926, 1928
Doubles champion: 1925, 1929
Doubles finalist: 1927

Wimbledon

Singles champion: 1925, 1928
Singles finalist: 1924
Doubles champion: 1925

U.S. Championships

Singles champion: 1926, 1927
* Mixed finalist: 1926, 1927

Lacoste came from a well to do family. He did not take up tennis until the age of 15. Lacoste was determined to pursue playing tennis on a more serious level. He had an intense training and committed himself to being a player. He constantly analyze the strengths and weaknesses of players and reading instructional books. He married Simone de la Chaume, the famous golfing champion. Their daughter Catherine Lacoste was a champion golfer too.