André Merlin

André Merlin (15 November 1911 – 5 September 1960) was a French tennis player.

André Merlin
Merlin (left) and Sidney Wood in 1932
Full nameAndré Merlin
Country (sports) France
Born(1911-11-15)15 November 1911
Brazzaville,
French Equatorial Africa
Died5 September 1960(1960-09-05) (aged 48)
Paris, France
PlaysRight-handed
Singles
Grand Slam singles results
French OpenQF (1936)
Wimbledon3R (1933, 1934)
US Open3R (1931)

Biography

Born in Brazzaville on 15 November 1911, he was the son of the Governor-General of French Equatorial Africa, Martial Henri Merlin.

Merlin first represented the France Davis Cup team in the final of the 1933 tournament, against Great Britain at the Stade de Roland Garros. France, under The Four Musketeers, had won the previous six tournaments, but were an ageing side and brought in Merlin to counter the younger British players.[1] Merlin lost the opening match to Bunny Austin in a one sided encounter and Henri Cochet was beaten by Fred Perry, but the French fought back to win the doubles then levelled the tie when Cochet overcame Austin in five sets.[2] This meant it came down to Merlin in the fifth rubber, with his match against Perry to decide the title. Merlin won the first set, but Perry fought back to win in four and secure Britain's first title since 1912.[1] In the second set, Merlin had failed to capitalise on two set points.[3] This would remain the only Davis Cup final that Merlin played, despite his effort in France's 1934 campaign, when his win over Australia's Jack Crawford in the semi-final was not enough to ultimately win the tie.[4]

In August 1934 he was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident near Deauville in France.[5] He crashed into an oncoming vehicle while trying to overtake another and was thrown into a ditch. His leg suffered the worst, with torn ligaments and bad cuts to his knee.[5] He also sprained his ankle.[5] These injuries kept him out of action for the remainder of the year and cast doubts over his future in tennis.[6][7]

He was hospitalised again in March 1935 when he was poisoned after drinking a veronal bottle. His parents discovered him in his bedroom and doctors needed to use a stomach pump to restore him to full consciousness.[8] It was reported that it may have been a suicide attempt, with some close friends claiming on court struggles had left him near a nervous breakdown.[9] However, Merlin claimed the overdose was accidental and he had taken it after a tough day training.[8][10] The bottle had been prescribed after his motor accident to assist his sleep.[11]

In June he returned to the French Davis Cup team for a quarter-final tie against Australia, in what would be his last appearance in the tournament.

Merlin was a quarter-finalist in the 1936 French Championships, as an unseeded player. He had a win over fifth seed Henner Henkel en route to the quarter-final defeat in which he took countryman Christian Boussus to five sets. After the war, Merlin made one final appearance at his home tournament, at the 1947 French Championships, but ended up defaulting his opening match.[12]

He died in Paris on 5 September 1960, aged 48.[13]

See also

References
  1. Henderson, Jon (2009). The Last Champion: The Life of Fred Perry. ISBN 9781409077114.
  2. Murray, Scott. "The Joy of Six: classic cross-Channel sporting battles". The Guardian. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  3. "Britons Crash Through to Win". The Spokesman-Review. 31 July 1933. p. 1. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  4. "1934 Davis Cup Team's Record". The West Australian. Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 31 July 1934. p. 11. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  5. "Merlin Injured In Cycle Crash". The Day. 23 August 1934. p. 12. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  6. "Merlin's Career May Be Marred by Injuries". The Montreal Gazette. 24 August 1934. p. 13. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  7. "Team Building in France". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 12 December 1934. p. 12. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  8. "French Tennis Star Found Unconscious". The Milwaukee Journal. 19 March 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  9. "French Star Takes Poison, Is Recovering". The Milwaukee Journal. 18 March 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  10. "Wisps and Whispers". The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate. NSW: National Library of Australia. 21 March 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  11. "Davis Cup Hope Rushed to Hospital". The Newcastle Sun. NSW: National Library of Australia. 19 March 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  12. "Sidwell in Third Round". The West Australian. Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 18 July 1947. p. 6, Second Edition. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  13. "Tennis champ dies". Singapore Free Press. 7 September 1960. p. 1. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
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