Henri Rochon
Encyclopedia
Henri Rochon was a Canadian National tennis champion and Canadian
Davis Cup
tennis
player.
Born in and resident to Montreal, Rochon won the Canadian Open, the precursor to today's Rogers Cup ATP 1000 Series event, in 1949, defeating fellow Canadian Lorne Main
in the final, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2. He was also a three-time finalist, losing to American William Tully in 1948, 4-6, 5-7, 0-6; to Canadian Brendan Macken
in 1950, 0-6, 0-6, 3-6; and to fellow Québécois Robert Bédard, 6-8, 2-6, 1-6.
Rochon appeared in U.S. National Championship fourteen consecutive times in singles, beginning in 1945. His best result came in 1951 when he reached the fourth round. In that round he leveled his match with No. 5 seed Tony Trabert
at a set all before falling in four. In the same year he made is only Wimbledon Championships appearance, reaching the second round.
In Davis Cup, Rochon played matches for Canada every year from 1946 through 1953 as well as in 1955 and 1956. All ties he played in, except for the last one, were home fixtures and took place at the Mount Royal Tennis Club
in Montreal. (The final one was played away against the Caribbean, in Trinidad
). As with other Canadians of that era, Rochon never beat an American or Australian
player in 8 matches, losing all 24 sets. Against Mexico
, his match win-loss record was 2 wins, 4 loses in singles and 1 and 1 in doubles, and as a team Canada featuring Rochon lost two ties to Mexico in the late 1940s before winning two in the 1950s. Canada's best result during that time was reaching the America zone Final five times - 1947, 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1955. Each time, however, they would come up against either the U.S. or Australia. (At the time there were two zones - Europe and America, with the later being essentially a 'rest of the world' zone.)
Canada Davis Cup team
The Canada Davis Cup team represents Canada in Davis Cup tennis competition and is governed by Tennis Canada.Canada currently competes in the Americas Zone of Group I. The team's best result came in its first appearance in 1913 when it reached the World Group final, losing to the United States 0–3...
Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player.
Born in and resident to Montreal, Rochon won the Canadian Open, the precursor to today's Rogers Cup ATP 1000 Series event, in 1949, defeating fellow Canadian Lorne Main
Lorne Main
Lorne Main is a former world-class amateur tennis player who competed 11 Grand Slam tournaments in singles. Main won the singles title of the prestigious Monte Carlo tennis championship in 1954 and was an integral Canada Davis Cup team team member during the early 1950s...
in the final, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2. He was also a three-time finalist, losing to American William Tully in 1948, 4-6, 5-7, 0-6; to Canadian Brendan Macken
Brendan Macken
Brendan Macken is a former Canadian National tennis champion and Canadian Davis Cup player.Originally from Montreal, Macken won the precursor to today's Roger Cups, the 1950 Canadian National championship, in singles, by defeating Henri Rochon in the final, 6-0, 6-0, 6-3. Despite this convincing...
in 1950, 0-6, 0-6, 3-6; and to fellow Québécois Robert Bédard, 6-8, 2-6, 1-6.
Rochon appeared in U.S. National Championship fourteen consecutive times in singles, beginning in 1945. His best result came in 1951 when he reached the fourth round. In that round he leveled his match with No. 5 seed Tony Trabert
Tony Trabert
Marion Anthony Trabert is a retired American tennis champion and long-time tennis author, TV commentator, instructor, and motivational speaker...
at a set all before falling in four. In the same year he made is only Wimbledon Championships appearance, reaching the second round.
In Davis Cup, Rochon played matches for Canada every year from 1946 through 1953 as well as in 1955 and 1956. All ties he played in, except for the last one, were home fixtures and took place at the Mount Royal Tennis Club
Mount Royal Tennis Club
The Mount Royal Tennis Club has been the most used venue for Canada hosting Davis Cup ties. It has been the country's most prominent grass court Davis Cup venue....
in Montreal. (The final one was played away against the Caribbean, in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
). As with other Canadians of that era, Rochon never beat an American or Australian
Australia Davis Cup team
The Australian Davis Cup team is the second most successful team ever to compete in the Davis Cup, winning the coveted title on 23 separate occasions, second behind the United States with 32....
player in 8 matches, losing all 24 sets. Against Mexico
Mexico Davis Cup team
The Mexico Davis Cup team represents Mexico in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Federación Mexicana de Tenis.Mexico finished as runners-up in 1962. They currently compete in the Americas Zone Group II. They last competed in the World Group in 1997.-History:Mexico competed in...
, his match win-loss record was 2 wins, 4 loses in singles and 1 and 1 in doubles, and as a team Canada featuring Rochon lost two ties to Mexico in the late 1940s before winning two in the 1950s. Canada's best result during that time was reaching the America zone Final five times - 1947, 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1955. Each time, however, they would come up against either the U.S. or Australia. (At the time there were two zones - Europe and America, with the later being essentially a 'rest of the world' zone.)
Sources
External links
- RDS.com biographical description (French)