Yvon Petra

Who was Yvon Petra?

Yvon Petra was a French male tennis player. He was born in Cholon, Vietnam. He is best remembered as the last Frenchman to win the Wimbledon championships men's singles title, beating Geoff Brown in five sets in the final. In doubles he won the French championships twice, in 1938 with Bernard Destremau, defeating the best pair in the world Budge-Mako, and in 1946 with Marcel Bernard. He also won two French national titles during World War II. He emigrated to the United States and worked as a tennis pro at the Saddle and Cycle Club in Chicago and a country club in Connecticut towards the end of his life. Petra was ranked World No. 8 for 1947 by Harry Hopman.

He was the last man to wear long trousers in a Wimbledon final.