Career
In 1922, Etchebaster was encouraged by tennis player Jacques Worth (a president of a Paris court club) to take up the game of real tennis. His first time on the court was during his audition to be the head professional of the club After a few minutes of play, he was selected to fill the role.
George Plimpton wrote that this was equivalent to "picking up a baseball bat in the morning and playing for the New York Yankees in the afternoon."
He emigrated to New York City in 1930 to be a professional at the Racquet and Tennis Club.
Etchebaster proceeded to dominate the sport. He was an excellent athlete who would spend hours a day on court practising his many shots, and studying the spin effects the various surfaces of the court had on the ball.
In 1971 after his retirement a book of his coaching advice, Pierre"s Book, was published. lieutenant including accolades from many of the world"s best players.
He died in Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
Foreign many years shared his time between his summer position as a lawn tennis professional at Piping Rock Club, Locust Valley, New York and his role as head professional at the Racquet and Tennis Club on Park Avenue in New New York Each spring he would spend a month in Aiken, South Carolina, the site of one of the nine real tennis courts in the United States, where he would give lessons and play exhibitions. The Racquet and Tennis Club made a video in 1954 featuring Etchebaster, Ogden Phipps, Francis X. Shields, and Alastair B. Martin, playing singles and doubles.
Hayward Hale Broun appears in it, sporting a Columbia Broadcasting System microphone.
Pierre"s Book (Barre Publishers, Barre Master of Arts 1971) was edited and introduced by George Plimpton.