ATP Tour

Henri Leconte was a patriotic Frenchman, who competed with great flair and natural talent to reach a singles career-high of World No. 5 on 22 September 1986.

At 1988 Roland Garros, the left-hander finished runner-up to Mats Wilander in a 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 loss. As a crowd favourite and entertainer, Leconte also won the 1984 Roland Garros doubles title and was runner-up at the 1985 US Open with Yannick Noah.

Leconte helped France win the Davis Cup in 1991 for the first time for 49 years. He beat Pete Sampras 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 on the first day in Lyon, which he described as "the best match I played in my life." He then partnered Guy Forget to a 6-1, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 doubles win over Ken Flach and Robert Seguso, before Forget beat Sampras in the fourth rubber to clinch the trophy.

Leconte, a former doubles World No. 6, played 28 Davis Cup ties over 13 consecutive years (1982-1994), compiling a 41-25 record (17-5 in doubles). He was undefeated with Forget (11 wins) and won his last 14 doubles matches from March 1985 to July 1993. He also helped France to the 1986 ATP World Team Championship in Dusseldorf.

Fuelled by the feats of Arthur Ashe, Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe, Leconte first came to the tennis world�s attention when he won the junior Roland Garros title in 1981, the year he turned pro.

Leconte was a three-time Masters qualifier in 1985-86 and 1988. On 12 May 1989, he underwent the first of three operations on a herniated disk. He retired in 1996, having won nine singles and 10 doubles titles. He now competes on the ATP Champions Tour. Bio: James Buddell