Marcel Bernard

Marcel Bernard was a French male tennis player who was best remembered for winning the French Open in 1946. In the same year, he also won the men’s doubles with his partner Yvon Petra. And 1935, he won the mixed doubles with Lollete Payot. In the following French Open in 1936 he also won the mixed doubles with Adeline Yorke and the men’s double with Jean Borotra.

Marcel Bernard was born on May 18, 1914 in La Madeleine, France. He first had a grand slam debut at the age of 17 in the French Open in 1931, and lost at his third round to Fred Perry. At the 1932, he lost to Henri Cochet in straight sets.

During the war, Bernard had stopped playing tennis and by the time the war ended, he was already 32 and out of form. He only wants to play for the doubles ha time, but the French Association convinced him to play for the singles too. It prove to be a good decision because Bernard defeated Budge Patty in the quarters and Yvon Petra at the semifinals before coming for two sets to defeat Jaroslav Drobny in the finals.

For over a period of 21 years, he played the Davis Cup for France and later became president of the French Tennis Federation. The French Open Mixed doubles cup was named as the “coupe Marcel Bernard”. His name was also commemorated at the Rolland-Garros Stadium. When you happened to look by the walkway, you will see his name carved as “Allee Marcel Bernard” which leads to the Suzanne Lenglen Court.