Prenn, Daniel

Dr. Prenn was an engineer who was considered by many to be Europe's top player in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Daniel starred for Germany's Davis Cup squad when it defeated Great Britain in 1929 and again in 1932, but when the Nazis came to power in 1933, the Jewish star was barred from further competition. He later moved to England.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. Sept. 7 1904

Career Highlights:
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Prenn was one of the world's best singles players; he was ranked No. 8 in the world in 1929, No. 6 in 1932, and No. 7 in both singles and doubles in 1934. Prenn had to defeat Britain's top seeded Fred Perry and Bunny Austin, as well American Frank Shields at the 1932 Davis Cup in order to be named Europe's top player by American Lawn Tennis Magazine. Prenn won 21 of 30 matches for the German Davis Cup team from 1928 untl 1932.

Despite being Germany's No. 1 ranked player from 1928-1932, Prenn was no longer allowed to compete in Germany by the German Tennis Federation after the rise of the Nazis in 1933. While Germany excluded all Jews from being associated with the Federation, they singled out Dr. Prenn when they passed this resolution: "The player Dr. Prenn (a Jew) will not be selected for the Davis Cup team in 1933." The two Britons whom he had defeated earlier, Perry and Austis, began a public protest, and Sweden's King Gustav V. Adolph even had a friendly match with Prenn after visiting the German government.

Prenn was able to escape Germany and moved to England. While he did continue to play competitively -- he was ranked No. 7 in the world in doubles -- he was unable to regain his full brilliance. His son, Oliver, won the junior tennis champion at Wimbledon in 1955 at the age of 17. Daniel is a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Origin:
Poland

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