Daniel Prenn

Daniel Prenn (7 September 1904 – 3 September 1991) was a Russian-born German, Polish, and British tennis player of Jewish origin. He was ranked the world No. 6 for 1932 by A. Wallis Myers. He was ranked world No. 8 in 1929 (Bill Tilden), world No. 7 in 1934 (American Lawn Tennis), and was ranked No. 1 in Germany for the four years from 1928 to 1932. He was a runner-up for the mixed doubles title of Wimbledon in 1930. When the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, they barred him from playing because he was Jewish. to a railway building contractor, and was Jewish. He grew up primarily in Saint Petersburg, in the Russian Empire. He graduated from the Technische Hochschule of Charlottenberg, Germany, earning a doctorate in civil engineering in 1929.

Table tennis career Prenn represented Germany in the 1926 World Table Tennis Championships in London, reaching the fourth round in singles and the quarterfinals in doubles.

Tennis career After arriving in Berlin Prenn first became a member of Tennis-Club Borussia, then switched to Rot-Weiss Tennis Club. He was runner-up at the Berlin international Championships, losing to Bill Tilden in the final. He also lost the doubles with his Davis Cup teammate Heinrich Kleinschroth to the duo of Tilden and Erik Worm.

In 1931, he won the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles championships of the City of Dresden tournament. The same year he lost the Berlin International Championships the second time to Roderich Menzel in straight sets, but won the doubles partnering with him. He was a runner-up for the Danish Covered Court Championships in 1932, losing to Danish champion Einer Ulrich.

In the Davis Cup from 1928 through 1932, Prenn played 13 matches for Germany, winning 17 rubbers and losing 5, compiling a 73% winning record. and from 1928 to 1932 he peaked the German tennis charts. The same year "American Lawn Tennis" magazine named him the European No. 1 player.

After moving to Great Britain, he had a successive run in winning a series of tournaments in 1933, including the Scottish Lowland Championships against Antoine Gentien, the West of England Championships against Hendrik Timmer (also finalist in doubles) and the Paris Championships against Christian Boussus.

In 1934, he clinched the Surrey covered courts tournament in Dulwich after defeating American David Jones.

In 1935, he was the runner-up for the mixed doubles contest of the British Hard Court Championships with Evelyn Dearman. Unfortunately a flu prevented his partner from competing that day, and they had to default the match. He lost the Harrow tournament of London to Bunny Austin in straight sets, and the French Covered Court Championships to Jean Borotra. The same year he won the Surrey Hard Court Championships at Roehampton against South African player Pat Spence.

In 1937, he lost the Priory tournament final to Kho Sin-Kie.

German Tennis Federation suspension and ban In early 1931, he was accused of turning professional (meaning he broke the rule of amateurism) and was suspended from playing for a couple of months Several months later the German Tennis Federation suspended him for another six months for sponsorship charges, based on the accusations of racquet manufacturer Hammer & Co. who claimed Prenn asked for payment for choosing Hammer's equipment. Local media labelled this action as anti-semitic, and it being forged by Hammer Company. As a result of his suspension Prenn's titles were taken back, as well as his amateur license. He was also expelled from the Germany Davis Cup team, though it didn't affect his presence as Germany was eliminated in the first round of the 1931 International Lawn Tennis Challenge

On 24 April 1933, a newly appointed Reichssportführer issued a declaration on behalf of the German Lawn Tennis Association stating that no Jew could be selected for the national team or the Davis Cup, and that no Jewish or Marxist club or association could be affiliated with the German Tennis Federation, and specifically that the Jewish player named Dr. Prenn would not be selected to the German Davis Cup team in 1933. In an open letter to The Times leading British players Fred Perry and Bunny Austin protested again Prenn's exclusion from the Davis Cup. Five years later, von Cramm was himself targeted and arrested on charges of homosexuality and imprisoned. His company was sold to Racal in 1969 for $1.26 million. In 1970, he founded Celestion Electronics, a loudspeaker manufacturer. Another son, John Allen Nicholas (b. 1953), who was a World Champion of racquets in 1981, was also a shareholder in Lacoste, and as an avid supporter of tennis and squash he got Celestion involved in a racquet sponsoring venture, which ended in 2010. He still has an interest in or owns a dozen companies.

Daniel Prenn was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1981.

Grand Slam finals

Mixed doubles: (1 runner-up)