René Lacoste, aged 19, plays out his future at Deauville | LACOSTE
  • Go to content
  • Go to menu
  • Go to search panel
  • Go to customer menu
  • Men
    • See the Men’s Collection
      • See All Men's new in
      • Lacoste Members' exclusives
      • Bestsellers
      • Lookbook - L.12.12 POLO LIGHT
      • Clothing
      • Shoes
      • Bags & Small leather goods
      • Accessories
      FW24-btw
      Back To Work
      • See All Men's Clothing
      • Online Exclusive
      • Customisation
      • Sweatshirts
      • Polo Shirts
      • Jackets & Coats
      • Tracksuits
      • Knitwear
      • T-Shirts
      • Trousers & Shorts
      • Shirts
      • Swimwear
      • Sport Clothing
      • Underwear & Lounge wear
      • See All Men's Shoes
      • Online Exclusive
      • Sneakers
      • Outdoor
      • Performance
      • Socks
      • See All Men's Accessories
      • Online Exclusive
      • Caps & Hats
      • Beanies
      • Belts
      • Watches
      • Home
      • Sunglasses
      • Fragrance
      • iPhone Cases
      • Socks
      • All Men's Leather Goods
      • Online Exclusive
      • Bags
      • Wallets & Small Leather Goods
      • Backpack
      • Vertical Bags
      • Bum Bags
      • Business & Laptop Bags
      • See All men's sport collection
      • Lacoste sport
      • Roland-Garros
      • Tennis
      • Golf
      • Training
      • Sports Style
      • All the pieces
      • Underwear
      • Nightwear
      • Loungewear
  • Women
    • See the Women’s Collection
      • See All Women's new in
      • Lacoste Members' exclusives
      • Bestsellers
      • Lookbook - Women's Silhouette
      • Clothing
      • Shoes
      • Bags & Small leather goods
      • Accessories
      • See All Women's Clothing
      • Online Exclusive
      • Customisation
      • Polo Shirts
      • Sweatshirts
      • Dresses & Skirts
      • T-Shirts
      • Knitwear
      • Jackets & Coats
      • Tracksuits
      • Shirts & Tops
      • Trousers & Shorts
      • Sport Clothing
      • Bras & Leggings
      • Underwear & Loungewear
      • Swimwear
      • See all Women's Shoes
      • Online Exclusive
      • Sneakers
      • Outdoor
      • Performance
      • Flip-Flops & Sandals
      • Socks
      • All Women's Leather Goods
      • Online Exclusive
      • The Lenglen bag
      • Bags
      • Cross Body
      • Back Pack
      • Wallets & Small Leather Goods
      SS25-SALE
      Sale
      • See all Women's Accessories
      • Online Exclusive
      • Caps & Hats
      • Scarves & Stoles
      • Watches
      • Jewellery
      • Sunglasses
      • Fragrance
      • Home
      • iPhone cases
      • Socks
      • See all women's sport collection
      • Lacoste sport
      • Roland-Garros
      • Tennis
      • Golf
      • Fitness & Training
    • Underwear
  • Kids
    • See the Children’s Collection
      • See All Kids's new in
      • Babies 6-18 months
      • Kids 2-8 years
      • Teen 10-16 years
      • See All Babies Collection
      • Gift Boxes
      • Clothing
      • Shoes
      • Accessories
      SS24-Gifts
      Gift Boxes
      • See All Kids Collection
      • Online Exclusive
      • Boy clothing
      • Girl clothing
      • Shoes
      • Accessories
      SS25-Mini-Me
      Mini Me
      • See All Teen Collection
      • Online Exclusive
      • Boy clothing
      • Girl clothing
      • Shoes
      • Accessories
      SS25-Teens-clothing
      Teens collection
  • Discover
    • All the pieces
      • Lacoste News
      • Last Fashion Show
      • Lacoste Sport
      • Lacoste Story
      • All the pieces
      • Online Exclusive
      • Last Fashion Show
      • Tennis Attitude
      • Lacoste under the sun
      • Roland-Garros
      • Collection Terre Battue
      • L1212 Light Polo
      • Festival Selection
      • The Lenglen bag
      • All the pieces
      • Men
      • Women
      • Kids
      • Customisation
      SS25-Chapter1-Custo
      Personalised Gifts Made in France
      • All the pieces
      • Online Exclusive
      • Lookbook
      • Colour-Block
      • Monogram
      • Logos XXL
      • Outdoor
      • Mini me
      • Mix & Match
      • Mix & Match Leathergoods
      • All the pieces
      • Sport Shop
      • Tennis
      • Golf
      • Fitness & Training
      • Sports Style
      • All the pieces
      • Discover our commitments
      • Organic cotton
      • Recycled materials
      • Respect for animal welfare
      SS25-Our-Commitments
      Discover our commitments
    • Select your language
    • english
    • deutsch
    • español
    • français
    • italiano
August 1, 2023 – Heritage
Previous Next
Previous Next

The incredible story behind the crocodile - part 2

Deauville, the last stage

Tennis player from the 20s. AI-generated image using MidJourney.

AI-generated image using MidJourney.

———

René Lacoste’s American dream began with a triumphant victory in Normandy

The urgent telegram René Lacoste held in his hands was the official call-up that every tennis player dreamed of. It was news he had been eagerly anticipating. Still so young, he had been selected to play on France’s national team in the Davis Cup. This wasn’t the first time—Lacoste had recently been part of triumphant encounters against Denmark, Ireland and Switzerland—but this time around was special.


In late July 1923, the Europe Zone final of the Davis Cup would see the French team battling it out against Spain in Deauville. If they won, they would have to travel all the way across the Atlantic for the play-off, on American soil, against the America Zone winners. Whoever triumphed there would then go on to challenge the defending champions, the United States. So it was vital that he held his nerve. Even though he was only 19.

———

Keeping his cool

When they got to Deauville and the newly refurbished grass courts of the Sporting Club – below today’s Golf Barrière, where the Lacoste Ladies Open de France is played – René Lacoste was thrown straight in at the deep end. On Saturday 28 July, the French team captain Allan H. Muhr picked him to spearhead the assault by taking on Manuel de Gomar, a Spanish star player who had yet to lose a match in the tournament. There ensued an epic battle, drawn out over two days because of rain, with Lacoste staying surprisingly composed despite the squalls of wind sweeping the resort and the clay court. He ultimately managed to prevail, winning in four sets. France was now leading 1-0.


But in the doubles match that followed, Jacques Brugnon and Henri Cochet were beaten by their Spanish opponents. Lacoste took up his racket again, for his second match against Spain's Eduardo Flaquer. Spurred on by the elegant Deauville spectators – avid tennis fans who particularly relished his talent – Lacoste quickly trounced his adversary 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 under the sunshine. This young sporting hero had just put France within striking distance of victory. Jean-François Blanchy stepped up and finished the job, to the crowd’s acclamations and with Lacoste cheering himself hoarse. Next stop: America!

How would they reach the promised land of America? Find out in the next episode.

———

You’ve been taken on a unique journey back to the year 1923 thanks to the wonders of images generated by artificial intelligence and a never-before-seen text.

———

Dive into more articles

Lacoste Roland-Garros Collections
13TH MAY 2025 - SPORTS
Roland-Garros: The best looks

Read the article

Novak Djokovic
6TH MAY 2025 - EVENTS
Play with Icons

Read the article

The story of the Lacoste polo shirt
9TH APRIL 2025 - FASHION
The polo shirt, the story of a stroke of genius

Read the article

New women's silhouette
5TH MARCH 2024 - FASHION
Woman's silhouette: the pleat in 6 styles

Read the article

Categories

  • Men's Collection
  • Women's Collection
  • Kids Collection
  • Men's Polos
  • Women's Polos
  • Shoe Shop
  • Lacoste Sport
  • The Tracksuit
  • Women's Handbags

LACOSTE

We use cookies to improve our site and your shopping experience. By continuing to browse our site you accept our cookie policy.

Find out more