Joseph Negro

In today's article we are going to explore different aspects related to Joseph Negro. From its origin and evolution, to its possible implications and applications today. Throughout this journey, we will analyze different approaches and perspectives that will allow us to better understand the role that Joseph Negro has played over time and how it continues to impact various areas of society. From historical and cultural aspects, to its relevance in the current panorama, we will delve into a wide range of topics to understand the importance and significance of Joseph Negro in the contemporary world. Join us on this journey of discovery and inquiry about Joseph Negro and discover its fascinating universe from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Joseph Negro (December 17, 1896—April 23, 1971) was a French professional tennis player. He was a three-time runner-up at the Bristol Cup, a precursor to the professional Grand Slam tournaments in the amateur era, in 1920, 1922, and 1923. He also worked as a teaching professional at the Nice Lawn Tennis Club on the French Riviera, where he coached Suzanne Lenglen as a child, who later became a 21-time Grand Slam champion and one of the best women's tennis players in the amateur era. He had also worked as a coach at Russian tennis clubs, including in Odessa.[1][2]

Negro was known for his all-court game and his ability to hit a wide variety of tricky shots. His tennis prowess was described as "If you told me he could make the ball sit up and beg, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised." He moved to Nice as a child in 1902, where he started out in tennis working as a ball boy for members of the Nice Tennis Club. Later in his life, Negro injured his leg during World War I before his best results at the Bristol Cup. He is also thought to be the inspiration for a character in The Original of Laura, a book by Vladimir Nabokov. He had played tennis with Nabokov in the 1960s, who described Negro as "a semi-lame swarthy old man who comes to life on court like cactus breaking into blossom".[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b Shapiro 2014, pp. 204–205.
  2. ^ a b Engelmann 1988, pp. 11–12.

Books

  • Engelmann, Larry (1988). The Goddess and the American Girl: The Story of Suzanne Lenglen and Helen Wills. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195043631.
  • Shapiro, Gavriel (2014). The Tender Friendship and the Charm of Perfect Accord: Nabokov and His Father. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 9780472119189.
  • {Article} Shapiro, "Joseph Negro, the Tennis Coach Prototype in The Original of Laura," The Nabokovian 76 (Fall 2018). https://thenabokovian.org/node/35562.