Cochet–Tilden rivalry

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Henri Cochet 1928.jpg
Henri Cochet (11 Major singles, 8 Major doubles, 4 Major mixed doubles, 2 Olympic Silvers singles and doubles, World No.1)
Bill Tilden in color.jpg
Bill Tilden (15 Major singles, 4 Major doubles, 4 Major mixed doubles, World No 1.)

This was a tennis rivalry [1] played between the French player Henri Cochet , and the American player Bill Tilden . In their respective careers the met each other on the court 35 times from 1926 until 1939 it ended with Tilden leading in head to head matches 23-12. [2] In Major championship matches their rivalry ended with Cochet leading Tilden 4-3.

Contents

Henri Cochet a former World number 1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion, three-time ITF Major champion and one time Pro Slam champion. Bill Tilden also a former World number 1, a ten-time Grand Slam singles champion, a four-time Pro Slam champion and one-time ILTF Major champion. Both players were Davis Cup champions Cochet six times and Tilden seven times.

Summary

Cochet and Tildens rivalry began during their amateur careers and ended when they were both professionals. [3] They first met each other in the quarter finals of the 1926 US National Championships with Henri Cochet winning their rivalry debut. Their last meeting was again at the quarter final stage of the 1939 French Pro Championships in which Tilden won. They played each other on four surfaces including grass courts, clay courts, hard courts and wood courts as well as indoors and outdoors. In Grand Slam tournaments they met five times it ended with Cochet ahead 4-1. [4] Curtis (2013) ranked their 1927 Wimbledon semi-final meeting as One of the Ten Most Epic Matches in Tennis History. [5] [6] Whilst American sportswriter Al Laney wrote at the time 'One of the Most Famous Tennis Matches Ever Played'. [7] The 1927 Wimbledon Championships was particularly notable from Cochet's stand point as he played and won three consecutive five-set matches en route to becoming champion despite being two sets to love down in the quarter finals, semi finals and the final.

Head-to-head

Official matches (Cochet 12–23 Tilden)

Included: [2]

Legend (Cochet-Tilden)
Grand Slams (4-1)
Pro Slams (0-2)

(i) denotes indoor tournament.

NoTournamentDateRoundSurfaceWinnerRunner UpScore
1 US National Championships 1926Quarter FinalGrassHenri CochetBill Tilden6-8 6-1 6-3 1-6 8-6 [8]
2 French Championships 1927Semi FinalClayBill TildenHenri Cochet9-7 6-3 6-2
3 Wimbledon Championships 1927Semi FinalGrassHenri CochetBill Tilden2-6 4-6 7-5 6-4 6-3 [9]
4 Davis Cup 1927Round RobinGrassBill TildenHenri Cochet6-4 2-6 6-2 8-6
5 Davis Cup 1928Round RobinClayHenri CochetBill Tilden9-7 8-6 6-4
6 Wimbledon Championships 1929Semi FinalGrassHenri CochetBill Tilden6-4 6-1 7-5 [10]
7 Davis Cup 1929Round RobinClayHenri CochetBill Tilden6-3 6-1 6-2
8 French Championships 1930FinalClayHenri CochetBill Tilden3-6 8-6 6-3 6-1 [11]
9 Davis Cup 1930Round RobinClayHenri CochetBill Tilden4-6 6-3 6-1 7-5
10 France vs. USA Pro 1933Round RobinClayBill TildenHenri Cochet6-3 6-4 6-2
11 USA vs. France Pro Series 1934Round RobinHardBill TildenHenri Cochet7-9 6-1 4-6 6-3 6-3
12USA vs. France Pro Series1934Round RobinHardBill TildenHenri Cochet10-8 6-2 7-5
13USA vs. France Pro Series1934Round RobinHardHenri CochetBill Tilden7-9 6-2 5-7 6-2 6-2
14USA vs. France Pro Series1934Round RobinHardBill TildenHenri Cochet6-3 6-3 9-11 6-1
15USA vs. France Pro Series1934Round RobinHardBill TildenHenri Cochet6-4 6-3 7-5
16USA vs. France Pro Series1934Round RobinHardBill TildenHenri Cochet11-9 7-9 8-6 7-5
17USA vs. France Pro Series1934Round RobinHardHenri CochetBill Tilden7-5 5-7 6-2 6-0
18USA vs. France Pro Series1934Round RobinHardBill TildenHenri Cochet6-3 2-6 6-0 6-2
19USA vs. France Pro Series1934Round RobinHardBill TildenHenri Cochet7-5 6-2 6-2
20USA vs. France Pro Series1934Round RobinHardBill TildenHenri Cochet6-4 4-6 8-6 3-6 6-3
21 Eastern Pro Championship 1934Round RobinClayBill TildenHenri Cochet9-7 6-2 6-4 [12]
22 Middle States Pro Championship 1934Semi FinalClayBill TildenHenri Cochet6-1 6-1 6-0 [13]
23 France vs. USA Pro III 1934Round RobinHardBill TildenHenri Cochet6-2 6-4 4-6 6-3
24 Lyon Pro 1934FinalClayBill TildenHenri Cochet3-6 6-3 7-5 6-4
25 La Baule Pro 1936FinalClayHenri CochetBill Tilden6-4 3-6 6-0 6-2
26 Bonnardel Cup 1936Round RobinGrassBill TildenHenri Cochet6-4 6-4 2-6 3-6 6-3 [14]
27 Scheveningen Pro 1937FinalClayBill TildenHenri Cochet6-2 8-6 1-6 6-1
28France vs. USA Pro1937Round RobinClayBill TildenHenri Cochet ?
29France vs. USA Pro1937Round RobinClayBill TildenHenri Cochet ?
30 Wembley Pro Championship 1937Semi FinalHard (i)Bill TildenHenri Cochet6-3 6-2 6-3
31 Florence Pro 19373RDHard (i)Bill TildenHenri Cochet6-4 8-6
32 Milan Pro 1937Round RobinHard (i)Bill TildenHenri Cochet6-4 3-6 6-1
33 Rome Pro 1937Semi FinalHard (i)Henri CochetBill Tilden ?
34 Olympia Pro 1939Round RobinHard (i)Henri CochetBill Tilden2-6 6-4 6-3 [15]
35 French Pro Championship 1939 [8] Quarter FinalClayBill TildenHenri Cochet3-6 9-7 6-3 3-6 7-5

Breakdown of their rivalry

See also

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References

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Sources