Tribute to Budge Patty

The most Parisian of American players, who was crowned champion at the Porte d’Auteuil in 1950, has passed away at 97.  

BUDGE PATTY, INTERNATIONAUX DE FRANCE 1954, SIMPLE MESSIEURS, 1/4 DE FINALE© Gil de Kermadec/FFT

For many years, he was the oldest living Roland-Garros champion. Budge Patty passed away on 3rd October, at the age of 97, in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he lived.   

An elegant champion, both on court and off, this dapper serve-and-volley expert triumphed at the  Porte d’Auteuil in 1950. It was a home victory of sorts, as in 1946, just after the Second World War, the man from Arkansas made the French capital his home. 

BUDGE PATTY, LEW HOAD, KEN ROSEWALL, RENCONTRE INTERNATIONAL LAWN TENNIS CLUB 1954, FRANCE VS GRANDE-BRETAGNE© Adolphe Morin/FFT

“Budge Patty was one of the great American players of the 1940s and 50s, International Tennis Hall of Fame President Stan Smith said. While he competed before my time, I’ve often heard about how beautiful and elegant his game was. He will be remembered as a standout among tennis history’s greatest champions".