He was only 5ft 6 but won seven Grand Slams and six consecutive Davis Cups

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Tennis is a tall man’s game in 2025, but that wasn’t always the case…

Carlos Alcaraz (6ft) and Jannik Sinner (6 ft, 3 in) have won the previous eight available Grand Slams.

Before them, Novak Djokovic (6 ft, 2 in), Rafael Nadal (6 ft 1 in), and Roger Federer (6 ft 1 in) dominated men’s tennis.

It’s tough to imagine anyone under 6 ft winning a Grand Slam in the future, given the way the game is played today.

However, back in the 1920s, one player won several major titles, standing at a mere 5 ft 6 inches.

5’6″ Henri Cochet won seven Grand Slams

Henri Cochet was one of the most successful French players ever.

He became a member of ‘The Four Musketeers’ alongside Rene Lacoste, Jean Borotra, and Jacques Brugnon.

After losing in the quarterfinals on his French Open debut in 1925, Cochet returned in 1926, determined to go all the way.

Competing as the number-four seed, Cochet qualified for the final, where he met Lacoste in a championship showdown.

Henri Cochet at the 1926 French Championships

• 2R [WIN] vs Ronaldo Boyd (Argentina)
• 3R [WIN] vs Leslie Godfree (Great Britain)
• 4R [WIN] vs Jose Maria Tejada (Spain)
• QF [WIN] vs Jean Washer (Belgium)
• SF [WIN] vs Vinnie Richards (USA)

In straight sets, Cochet defeated Lacoste to win his first Grand Slam in Paris.

He was unable to defend his title in 1927, but that didn’t stop him from adding to his Grand Slam tally, as he became the third member of ‘The Four Musketeers’ (After Borotra – 1924, 1926, and Lacoste – 1925) to win Wimbledon.

Henri Cochet at the 1927 Wimbledon Championships

• 1R [WIN] vs Fassett Burnett (Great Britain)
• 2R [WIN] vs Noel Turnbull (Great Britain)
• 3R [WIN] vs Heinrich Kleinschroth (Germany)
• 4R [WIN] vs Bela von Kehrling (Hungary)
• QF [WIN] vs Frank Huntler (USA)
• SF [WIN] vs Bill Tilden (USA)
• F [WIN] vs Jean Borotra (France)

A third Grand Slam title followed at the French Open in 1928, before Cochet made the trip to New York.

Searching for his first victory at Flushing Meadows, the Frenchman beat six Americans in a row to clinch the title.

Henri Cochet at the 1928 US National Championships

• 1R [WIN] vs Thomas Wilber (USA)
• 2R [WIN] vs Wilbur Coen (USA)
• 3R [WIN] vs Fritz Mercur (USA)
• QF [WIN] vs Gregory Mangin (USA)
• SF [WIN] vs Frank Shields (USA)
• F [WIN] vs Frank Hunter (USA)

Cochet never made the trip down under so failed to complete the Career Grand Slam, but won seven majors in total.

Henri Cochet’s Grand Slam performance timeline

However, for all his success at the Grand Slam level, Cochet may be best remembered for his efforts at the Davis Cup.

France and Henri Cochet won six Davis Cup titles in a row

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the French team, led by the ‘Four Musketeers’, dominated the Davis Cup for several years.

Ending the United States’ seven-year reign as champions, France won the first of their six consecutive titles in 1927.

The Four Musketeers’ dominance at the Davis Cup

• 1927 Davis Cup – Beat USA in F (3-2)
• 1928 Davis Cup – Beat USA in F (4-1)
• 1929 Davis Cup – Beat USA in F (3-2)
• 1930 Davis Cup – Beat USA in F (4-1)
• 1931 Davis Cup – Beat Great Britain in F (3-2)
• 1932 Davis Cup – Beat USA in F (3-2)

They held onto their crown until 1933, when Great Britain beat them 3-2 at Roland Garros to win their first Davis Cup in 21 years.

France have only won three Davis Cup titles since, failing to replicate the success of their 1920s golden generation.

They last won the title in 2017, when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet led the country to victory.

Only time will tell if future French teams can embody the spirit of ‘The Four Musketeers’ and add to the nation’s impressive Davis Cup tally.

France will play Slovakia in the 2026 qualifying round on Friday, February 6.