Henri Raoul Marie Salaun

(1926- )

Born in Brest on the Brittany coast, Henri Salaun came to the U.S. in 1940. Learning squash at Deerfield, Salaun played at Wesleyan where he was also a two-time All-American in soccer. A quick, competitive player, he won four nationals and lost a further five times in the finals, including at fourteen-all in the fifth to Eddie Hahn in 1951. In 1954 he took the inaugural U.S. Open, beat­ing British Open champion Hashim Kahn three-love, and also won the Canadian nationals and the Canadian Open as well as three Harry Cowles. Moving into the age groups, Salaun won an unprecedented twenty-six hardball titles: he won the veterans (over 40) six times, the masters (over 50) five straight years, the 55+ three times, 60+ four times, 65+ four times and the 70+ four times.

National Champion 1955, 1957, 1958, 1961
U.S. Open Champion 1954