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Robert AbdesselamFrench tennis player, politician
Date of Birth: 27.01.1920
Country:  France |
Content:
- Robert Abdesselam: From Tennis Star to Controversial Politician
- Early Life and Tennis Career
- Service in World War II
- Resumption of Tennis Career
- Political Career and Assassination
- Post-Political Career
- Later Years and Legacy
Robert Abdesselam: From Tennis Star to Controversial Politician
Robert Abdesselam (1920-2006) was a French tennis player who later became a prominent politician and a victim of political violence.
Early Life and Tennis Career
Born in Algeria to an Algerian father and a French mother, Abdesselam developed a passion for tennis at a young age. He honed his skills in Algiers and Paris, eventually becoming one of France's top tennis players. In 1937 and 1938, he won the French national junior championship. In 1939, he became the World University Student Champion.
Service in World War II
With the outbreak of World War II, Abdesselam's tennis career was interrupted. He joined the Allied forces and participated in the Italian campaign, receiving the Croix de Guerre and the U.S. Bronze Star for his valor.
Resumption of Tennis Career
After the war, Abdesselam resumed his tennis career. He played in the Davis Cup for France 14 times between 1947 and 1953, reaching the quarter-finals of Roland Garros in 1949 and the fourth round of Wimbledon in 1947. However, he nunca won a Grand Slam title.
Political Career and Assassination
In 1956, Abdesselam retired from tennis and entered politics. He was elected to the Algerian parliament in 1958 and became a vocal supporter of French Algeria. His views clashed with those of both President Charles de Gaulle and the National Liberation Front (FLN), a clandestine nationalist terrorist movement. On May 4, 1960, he was assassinated by an FLN gunman.
Post-Political Career
Following Algerian independence in 1962, Abdesselam abandoned politics and returned to sports. He worked as an international relations executive for Lacoste and held leadership positions in the French Tennis Federation and the International Tennis Federation.
Later Years and Legacy
In his later years, Abdesselam remained involved in tennis and other sports. He served as President of the International Club of Tennis on Grass from 1993 to 2004 and as President of the French Racing Club from 1959 to 1992. In 2006, he passed away in Paris.
In 2007, the Robert Abdesselam Fund was established to support former tennis players in their reconversion and rehabilitation. A Robert Abdesselam Prize was also created to recognize research in trademark law and international peacebuilding. In 2009, a biography entitled 'Robert Abdesselam, a life riddled with bullets' was published, highlighting the remarkable and often tumultuous life of this French legend.
