Alcides Procópio
| Full name | Alcides Procópio |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 May 1916 São Paulo, Brazil |
| Died | 23 December 2002 (aged 86) Brazil |
Alcides Procópio (São Paulo, 15 May 1916 – 23 December 2002) was a Brazilian tennis player. At the age of 17, Alcides Procópio was already the best player in Brazil. He played in the Davis Cup and at Wimbledon, served as president of the São Paulo Tennis Federation, and created the Banana Bowl tournament. He was also a businessman.[1][2][3]
Biography
The son of Italian immigrants, Alcides grew up at the Sociedade Harmonia de tênis club. He did not have money to buy tennis rackets because they were expensive, so he practiced with wooden paddles in the backyard of his home. Over time, he gained recognition for his talent and won his first tournament in 1933, at the age of 17.[4] In 1935, he became São Paulo doubles champion and competed in the Santos Open, where he defeated the best Brazilian players of the time, Ricardo Pernambucano and Nelson Cruz, before losing the final to Argentine player Hector Cataruzza.[5]
In 1935/1936, he began competing in and winning tournaments outside Brazil, becoming the country’s number one player. Despite difficulties, he started playing tournaments in Europe, including with the support of Getúlio Vargas.
At Wimbledon (he was the first Brazilian to compete in the tournament), he reached the second round and later played a tournament alongside King Gustav of Sweden.[6] However, due to the outbreak of World War II, he returned to Brazil. After coming back, he continued working for tennis off the court, founding pioneering companies in Brazil that manufactured rackets and other equipment.
He returned to competitive tennis in 1945, winning a Brazilian championship and competing in international tournaments. In 1951, he represented Brazil in the Davis Cup, in a victory over Finland and a loss to the Philippines. He also participated in the creation of the Brazilian Tennis Confederation (CBT).[1][6]
Procópio also served as president of the Federação Paulista de Tênis for 19 years, a period often described as the “Golden Age” of tennis in the state of São Paulo. During his tenure, the sport experienced significant organizational growth and increased competitive prominence.[1]
In addition to his administrative work, he founded the first Brazilian company dedicated to the manufacture of tennis rackets and related equipment, contributing to the development of the national tennis industry.[1]
He was Davis Cup team captain in 1983, when Edison Mandarino and Thomaz Koch were part of the team.[1]
He passed away on 23 December 2002.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Procopio Cup1 | Rio Open | Tennis". Rio Open. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ "No ritmo do Banana Bowl - Revista ECP". Revista ECP (in Brazilian Portuguese). 28 January 2025. Archived from the original on 17 December 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ "Alcides Procopio Overview". www.itftennis.com. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ Elias, Walmor (24 December 2022). "Morte da lenda Alcides Procópio completa 20 anos". TenisBrasil. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ "Alcides Procópio é homenageado no Banana Bowl". TenisBrasil (in Portuguese). 3 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Ex-tenista Alcides Procópio morre em São Paulo - Diário do Grande ABC - Notícias e informações do Grande ABC: esportes". Jornal Diário do Grande ABC (in Brazilian Portuguese). 22 December 2002. Retrieved 18 February 2026.