Benjamin Berthet (18 September 1910 – 20 January 1981) was a French

tennis Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles (tennis), doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket st ...

player and coach. Berthet was born to Polish-Jewish emigrants in New York and moved to France as a nine-year old. In 1931 he made the singles quarter-finals of the French Championships, losing to the top seed Jean Borotra. Berthet's title wins included the Polish International Championships. A jeweller by profession, Berthet fought with the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (, , ), is the principal Army, land warfare force of France, and the largest component of the French Armed Forces; it is responsible to the Government of France, alongside the French Navy, Fren ...

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and became a prisoner of war in 1941. During his captivity at Oflag IV-D he and other prisoners build tennis courts to play on. Berthet continued to compete after the war until his appointment as non playing captain of the France Davis Cup team in 1954. He held this role for a then record 11-years, before being replaced by Gérard Pilet after the 1955 campaign.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Berthet, Benny 1910 births 1981 deaths French male tennis players Tennis players from New York (state) American emigrants to France French people of Polish-Jewish descent French Army personnel of World War II French prisoners of war in World War II Jewish tennis players 20th-century French sportsmen