Enrique Grau: the son of the hero of the Combate de Angamos who became the first national tennis champion and played at Wimbledon in the 19th century | Enrique Grau Cabero | Miguel Grau | Dolores Cabero Nunez | tennis| Wimbledon| Club Lawn Tennis| William Renshaw | Royal School of Mines | Imperial CollegeLondon| earthquake| San Francisco| United States| Nicolas de Pierola | Presbyter Master Cemetery | nnsp | ARCHIVE-ELCOMERCIO

One day after more than one hundred German immigrants arrived in Callao aboard the US warship General Whblack, an incredible story traveled the streets of the country through the pages of El Comercio. On August 10, 1948, the dean newspaper published the interview with Enrique Grau Cabero, eldest son of the hero of the Battle of Angamos.

In the conversation, the Peruvian engineer revealed that he was the first national tennis champion. A tournament that was organized by the club Lawn Tennis and that he won it for ten years (1890-1900). He was also one of the first Peruvians to practice this sport. In addition, he said that he played in Wimbledon and competed against William Renshaw, British tennis player who has the most consecutive titles in that event (6). A serious injury took him away from the courts.

A fact that marked his childhood

Juan Manuel Enrique Grau Cabero was born in Lima on May 24, 1868. His parents were Miguel Grau Seminary and Dolores Cabero Nunez. The eldest son of the Knight of the Seas had a happy childhood until his father died in the well-known naval combat when he was only 12 years old. A fact that marked his childhood.

Some time later, in 1885, Enrique went to study in England. There he studied Mining Engineering at the Royal School of Mines From london. Later, he graduated in that profession with only 20 years. It should be noted that, in 1907, this school merged with other English institutions to form what is now the Imperial College London.

Years later, the Peruvian engineer returned to our country and began to stand out as a tennis player. This is how he became one of the best national players of the time. His skill in that sport made him win the championship of the Lawn Tennis for ten years (1890-1900).

That last year in which he was champion, Grade he was appointed Consul of Peru in San Francisco, California, United States. This designation had been given during the government of Nicolas de Pierola (1895-1899). For this reason, he left the rackets and went to settle in North American territory. Time later, he would leave the courts due to a serious injury.

played at Wimbledon

On the afternoon of Monday, August 9, 1948, a chronicler from Trade interviewed Enrique Grau on the club premises Lawn Tennis, located in Jesus Maria. The old man, 80 years old, was waiting for him in a room of the place dressed in a suit and tie. During the conversation, the octogenarian revealed how he learned to play tennis: “It was in England where I learned to play and this was more than half a century ago”.

Grade He also confessed that he went to study in that country because of a “wish” of his father. “There I belonged to the Chiswick Park club, where I learned and practiced tennis, for which I had great affection from the beginning”he said, smiling. This is how he managed to participate in several European championships and played in Wimbledon. He also competed against great players of that sport like William Renshawseven times champion of the famous British tournament.

Years later, he returned to our country and began to stand out in the championships held by the club Lawn Tennis of the Exhibition, which was founded by Pedro and Juan Gallagher in June 1884. “I played with Mr. Alejandro Puente, the Cooper brothers and others that I no longer remember. In truth, there were few Peruvians who played then. I championed for ten years, from 1890 to 1900″, the engineer said.

Serious injury that took him out of the courts

Already in the United States, Grade managed to play against the best tennis players in the world of that time. Years later, he retired from the courts after suffering a serious injury called “tennis elbow”: “I played with many friends but afterwards it was not good enough, because he gave me the “Tennis Elbow”, that is, I felt the muscles of the forearm rubbing against the bones and this was very painful”.

All the documents he kept about these tournaments were burned in the San Francisco earthquake and fire in 1906. A fact that the son of the naval hero cataloged as the disaster “greater than he had been able to see his eyes.” He also recalled that in the beginning the championship courts were larger and all the tennis players wore a kind of sweatshirt with long pants. Also, he confessed that the game was slower.

Two decades later, Enrique Grau left the United States and returned to Peru. Years later, on July 22, 1954, the first son of the remembered sailor died at the age of 86 in his house in Miraflores. His remains were buried in the Cuartel San Ciro 11-A del Presbítero Maestro cemetery, in the Fence of Lima. This is how the incredible story of our country’s first national tennis champion became known.

DO YOU KNOW OUR VIRTUAL STORE?

In our virtual store we have a selection of the best illustrations, photos and historical pages of El Comercio that you can easily request through a simple form located at the following address: https://www.tiendaelcomercio.com/.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO