Biography of Rene Lacost

Tennis news images of great tennis players of the past are lost in human memory over time. Editors of the Gotennis portal. In the fourth material of this cycle, there will be a story about the Frenchman Rene Lacoute - a tennis player who, during his short sports career, managed to perfectly prove himself in both individual and team competitions, and after the completion of professional performances began a new life, thanks to which he is known for millions of people around the world.

Rene Lacost has achieved fame and recognition in two areas of his activity. He was not only among the best tennis players of his time, but also became a designer of a new type of sports shirt, which became the cornerstone of his fashion designer. The nickname of the lacom "Crocodile", which he received from American journalists, is remembered today mainly thanks to the print of the reptile, which is everywhere on the clothes produced by Lacoste.

Fashion historians believe that the green crocodile which is often trying to classify as an alligator was the first example of a designer logo on clothes. Unlike German Gottfried von Kramma, Rene did not play tennis up to fifteen. In the year, the future champion and his father went on a trip to England, where Lacost first went to the court. Jean-Jules said that his son would train only if he immediately begins to demonstrate outstanding results.

The businessman’s vein did not allow Father Rene to spend time on activities that were purely entertaining. To be literal, then Jean-Zhul, who did not know the exact tennis terminology, said: "You should become the world champion for five years. Otherwise it makes no sense to try." According to the press service of the International Hall of Glory of Tennis, Rene replenished the lack of youthful practice with incredible drive, discipline and strategic thinking, which turned the Frenchman into a tennis phenomenon of his time.

Researchers of Lacosta’s biography notes that he did not possess any outstanding physical data, but achieved his success largely due to determination and zealous training. Rene was considered one of the smartest players of his time, who constantly analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of his opponents, spending a lot of time not only on the training court, but also in the library reading textbooks on tennis theory.

The game of Lacosta was based on a simple principle: confident actions on the back line, which simply knocked down the opponents of the Frenchman. The bright star of the twenties of the last century can be safely said that Rene was able to fulfill the demand of his strict father. In the years, Lacost was at the top of the world ranking. During his professional career, he won seven titles at the Grand Slam tournaments: on Roland Garros in, and years, on Wimbledon and years, as well as on US Open and years.

The Frenchman achieved a real breakthrough in the year when he managed to win champion titles on Roland Garros and Wimbledon. The following year, he became the triumph of the US championship, defeating Bill Tilden, who was then at the peak of his form.

The constant rival of Lacost in the finals of the "Major" was the Frenchman Jean Boron. However, Borotra won Lacost at Wimbledon Rene won seventy percent of all the final matches of the Big Slam tournaments in which he took part. He won five titles in confrontation with his fellow countrymen, and two more in meetings with American Bill Tilden. In the paired discharge, Lacosta was the same Jean Borotra, the eternal partner.

In the duet, the French won three victories at the Majory: "Roland Garros" in and the year, as well as at Wimbledon in the year of Rene became a member of the unofficial group of French tennis players, who received the nickname "Four Musketeers." This four is notable for the fact that twice in a row - and the year - brought the French national team the victory in the Davis Cup.

The modern reader, sophisticated by a stable performance of the leaders of the professional tour and the long series of victories of world tennis legends, from only two titles, may seem insignificant, but it should be understood that in those years the Davis Cup was the most influential and popular tournament in the world. National competitions had even a greater influence than the Majora.

No wonder the stiff British, who did not consider Fred Perry worthy of the title of real gentleman, allowed the British champion to go to the court as part of the national team. In the twenties and thirties of the last century, the Davis Cup matches attracted the attention of all leading players of the tour and world rulers. And such famous players as Don Baj, Fred Perry, Ell City Vines and many others considered it an honor to enter the court as part of the national team.

The great German tennis player Gottfried von Kramm for a long time was protected from the Nazi persecution due to the fact that he was the leader of the German national team in the Davis Cup.The match with Bill Tilden and the completion of a tennis player’s career as the most important victory in Lacost's career can be a success in a duel with the legendary American Bill Tilden, who brought France the victory in the Davis Cup, this title was the first for the French team, but unyielding French, led by three of the Four Muscquips, held the title Champions for five years.

Looking back, Tilden recalled Rene's significant performance: “It was one of the most“ brainwashed ”and fast players that I have ever met. To be honest, I underestimated Lacosta. Too late, I realized that he had a bit out of my tactics before the start of the fight. His cut blows did not leave me any chances. "Nevertheless, despite this, next year Rene was defeated by Tilden in the starting duel of the Davis Cup.

Unfortunately, this match was the last in the international arena. Health, and the results, the Frenchman, weakened, and the respiratory disease forced him to complete his career at only twenty -five years. “Roland Garros” announced the termination of professional performances. Therefore, my friend, designer Robert George, drew me a crocodile who was embroidered on the Blaysers in which I went to the court.

"Subsequently, this embroidered crocodile became one of the most famous and recognizable logos in the world. A new life after the end of the tennis player Rene began a second life. And it is worth noting that he achieved amazing success in it, because most lacom designer is even more known than the lacom-sportsman. In the year, Rene founded the company La Societe Chemise Lacoste, which was engaged in the production of a revolutionary new type of tennis clothing, in which the Frenchman himself previously played: instead of a shirt with a long sleeve and a dense collar, which at that time was a classic shape of clothing on the court, Lacosta presented the public with a convenient cotton shirt-floor.

According to the curator of the New York Museum Metropolitan Richard Martin: "Rene created an ideal sports form long before the appearance of this term." The symbol of elegance, despite the fact that Lacoste initially produced exclusively sportswear, gradually began to influence the tastes of ordinary tennis fans. Bernard, the son of Rene, noted that the products of the father of his father became truly popular in the year, when Lacost decided to move away from white, which was considered the only acceptable on the tennis court for a long time and release a color clothing line.

In the seventies of the last century, the company reached the peak of its fame, when Lacoste shirts from Lacoste became a symbol and an obligatory attribute of neat students from higher society. At that time, Rene was surprised by the popularity of his emblem: “There are things that have no logical explanation. I think if I chose some sweet animal, the company would be less known.

Perhaps I could place a Roostus logo - this is a symbol of France. But I think that in the end it would not have such an influence on society.” The development of the company Rene Lacosta transferred the company to his son Bernard in the year. Today, the turnover of the international corporation is more than a billion dollars, and Lacoste produces everything from hours to underwear.

In the year, French designer Christoph Lemar noted: "Lacoste shirts are popular thanks to many factors. They have become the product that everyone dreams of: members of suburban clubs, tractor drivers and even rap stars." However, Rene has succeeded not only in the design of clothing. In the sixties of the last century, he acted as the creator of the Wilson T metal racket, which the American Jimmy Connors called the ideal.

After the completion of his “second life”, Rene was fond of golf. The wife of the tennis player and designer Simon de la Shome became the French champion in this sport, and his daughter Katerina Lacost won the US opening championship in the year. Rene died at the age of 92 in the French town of Saint-Jan de Luz, but the “crocodile-lacost” will remain in the memory of fans of tennis and fashion forever.