1881 men's tennis season explained

1881 men's tennis season
Duration:19 April – 10 November
Edition:6th
Tournaments:73 (Amateur)
Categories:Important (5)
National (2)
Provincial/Regional/State (6)
County (6)
Local/other (54)
Most Tournament Titles: William Renshaw (4)
Most Tournament Finals: Richard Taswell Richardson (5)
Previous:1880
Next:1882

The 1881, men's tennis season [1] [2] was composed of the sixth annual pre-open era tour, which now incorporates 73 tournaments staged in Australia, Canada, Great Britain and Ireland, and the United States. The 1881 Wimbledon Championships was won by William Renshaw. This year also saw the inaugural and important 1881 U.S. National Championships held at Newport Casino which Richard Sears won. This was also the year that the United States National Lawn Tennis Association,[3] which is the world's first national tennis association, was founded. Renshaw then went on to win two other big tournaments of the year, namely, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and Princes Club Championships, whilst Richard Taswell Richardson won the prestigious Northern Championships.[4]

The tour began in April in Cheltenham, England, and ended in November in Melbourne, Australia.

Calendar

Notes 1: Challenge round: the final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921),[5] in some tournaments, not all.

Notes 2:Tournaments in italics were events that were staged only onetime

Key

Important.[6] [7] [8] [9]
National
Provincial/State/Regional
County
Local

January to March

No events

April

DateTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist
4 April.[10] G.H. Evans
?
?
19–23 April.[11] Ernest Renshaw
6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 8-6
Ernest Browne Major Henry Holley Goodeve
G. Harrison
Ernest Edwin Meek
Henry Blane Porter
S. Davies
Ernest Renshaw
William Renshaw
def
George Montague Butterworth
G. Harrison.
Ernest Browne
Miss Williams
def
Henry Blane Porter
Miss. Florence Mardall.

May

DateTournamentWinnerAll Comers' FinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist
23–29 MayIrish Lawn Tennis Championships[12]
Dublin, Ireland
Outdoor
Grass
Singles - Doubles
William Renshaw
1-6 6-4 6-3 6-1
Richard Taswell Richardson Peter Aungier A J Mullholland
Ernest Renshaw
Otway Woodhouse
Challenge round
Herbert Lawford
Spencer Duncan Maul
Miss Costello
6-4, 7-5
Robert Hassard
Miss. D. Meldon
31 May. [13] Wilfred Milne
3 sets to 0
B. Hawes
F.M. Ashley
Oswald Milne
F.M. Ashley
Ferguson G. Davies
Mr. Maclachlan
Rev. G.S. Money

June

DateTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarter finalist
June.[14] Robert Wallace Braddell
6-4, 8-6, 6-2
Rev. Thomas Poltimore Dimond
30 May–4 June.[15] Barclay Fowell Buxton
?
Erskine Gerald Watson E.W. Brooke
?
R. Hunt
?
A.C. Cooper
?
R. Hunt
Bye
J.E. McMaster
?
J.H.M. Whitehead
?
1–5 June Pelham Von Donop
5-6 6-5 6-3
John Charles Kay
Bye
William Norton Barry
H. C. Jenkins
Henry Blane Porter
5-10 JuneWorcester Park Challenge Cup.
Worcester, Worcestershire, England
Grass
F. Durant
?
?
6–12 June Richard Taswell Richardson
6-0 6-0
Henry Blane Porter
R W Jones
W. G. Barker
T. R. Hunt
C. Phillips
6–12 JunePrinces Club Championships[17]
London, Great Britain
Outdoor
Grass
Singles - Doubles
William Renshaw
7-5 4-6 6-0 6-3
Herbert Lawford Richard Taswell Richardson
John Charles Cole
L. G. Campbell
6–12 June Dale Womersley
6-0 6-4
Edward North Buxton Charles Walder Grinstead
6-3 6-1
Albert Womersley
W.C. Wells
A. Fowler was absent.
16–18 June.[19] [20] Richard Taswell Richardsons
6-0, 6-0
Reginald Herbert Jones
20–26 JuneNorthern Championships[21]
Manchester, Great Britain
Outdoor
Grass
Singles - Doubles
Richard Taswell Richardson
6-1 6-1 6-0
Walter Edwin Fairlie A. L. Payne
Percival C. Fenwick
J. J. Yates

July

DateTournamentWinnerAll comers' finalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist
26 June–1 July.[22] H. Blatherwick
6-3,6-3,6-4
A. Buchanan
2–13 July William Renshaw
6–0, 6–1, 6–1
Richard Taswell Richardson Herbert Lawford
Challenge round
John Hartley
11–17 July John Galbraith Horn[25]
6-1 6-5
A L Davidson T A Bell B S Cunliffe
Captain Gosling
Charles C Maconochie Captain Sterling
12 July.[26] [27] Championship of the Esher LTC.
Esher Lawn Tennis Club
Esher, Surrey, England
Grass
Clement Edward Cottrell
6-5, 6-5, 6-1
Charles Martineau
12 July. Bedfordshire LTC Tournament
North Beds Lawn Tennis Club
Blunhem House, Fairfield, Bedfordshire, England
Grass
Cecil Henry Polhill-Turner
?
R. Hughes C. Mellor A.K. Lindsell
F.H. Smith
Captain Leigh Warner
16 July.[28] Edward North Buxton
2 sets to 0

R.C. Ball
?
15-16 July.[29] Henry W. J. Gardner
6-4, 2-6, 6-5
E.W. Burnett A.W. Hart
E.K. Wade
John George Chamberlain
C.E. Green
L.G. Knight
17–20 July[30] F.A. Clark
?
?
20-23 July.[31] Edward North Buxton
?
H.E. Kaye N.F. Roberts
Daniel Wiltringham Stable
A. Fowler
S.E. Palmer
Ernest Robert Stable
E. Wheeler
Challenge round
F.E. Deck
18–24 July Isidore F. Hellmuth
6–2, 6–2
W.H. Young
?
18–24 July Dr. Walter W. Chamberlain
6-3 6-1 6-4
F.S. Goodwin
G.R. Brewerton
R.W. Miller
G.H. Cartland
G.J. Chamerlain
H. Simonds
J. Lambert
25–30 July Frederick Lawrence Rawson
6-1 4-6 6-2 6-3
Otway Woodhouse
Edgar Lubbock
G. H. Taylor
B. James
Ernest Wool Lewis
Augustus Adolphus Nepean
30 July.Harrow Lawn Tennis Club Tournament.
Harrow Lawn Tennis Club
Harrow, Middlesex, England
Grass
Frederick Gordon Templer
2 sets to 1
J. Ruault J.P. Charles
G. Holmes
C. Edwards
W. Guillemard
E.S. Prior
W. Wilkinson
25–30 JulyNorwich Open Tournament.
Chapelfield Gardens
Norwich, Norfolk England
?
Francis William Monement
6-2 6-4
Edward Morgan Hansell Henry Edward John Browne
Walter Edward Hansell
R.H. Perkin
25–31 July Robert Shaw Templer
def.
Kerry Leyne Supple
H Graves A. Edes
Frederick Gordon Templer

August

DateTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarter finalist
August.[34] George Bevan Bowen
?
August Jasper Gibson
6-0, 6-0, 6-2
M. Liddell
J.W. Fowler
W. Gibson
J.O. Head
Henry Kirsopp
J.H. Nicholson
August Harry Sibthorpe Barlow
3 sets to 1
Herbert Chipp
Robert Samuel Creaton
E.F. Carey
R.A. Walker
2–4 August.[35] F.E. Rooke
?
Julian Marshall
4 August. G.H. Evans
?
Henry Minshull Stockdale R.H. Lindsay
F.G. Hodgson

September

DateTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist
September.Skipton Tournament
Craven Lawn Tennis Club (f.1879)?
Gargrave, Skipton, North Yorkshire, England
Outdoor
Grass
T.R. Atkinson
?
J.B. Dury R.J. Jefferson J. St. John
W. Bairstow
L. Dewhurst
September.West Somerset Archery and Lawn Tennis Tournament
West Somerset Lawn Tennis Club
Taunton, Somerset, England
Outdoor
Grass
Francis Escott Hancock
2 sets to 0
R.P. Spurway G.F. Hampson
C.R. Rodwell
J. St. John
A. Newton
G. Peard
F. Scott
30 Aug–3 Sept.[36] [37] Lt-Col Robert H. Stuart Truell
6–4, 1–6, 6–5
Lieut. Robert Howden Kellie Percy Wildman Lushington
Lieut. King
William Robert Boileau Peyton
29 August-4 Sept Spencer Cox
6-3 7-5
Champion Russell
G. Batten
Pelham Von Donop
A.Belfield
A.W. Buckingham
H. B. Kindersley
5–6 September.[38] Percy John Frederick Lush
5-2 5-4
M. Lush R.L. Williams
P.J.T. Henery
A.B. Mesham
Major. Mesham
5–9 September. Edgar Lubbock
6-4 6-2 6-0
Robert W. Braddell R.N. Cooper-Coles
Frederick Brunning Maddison
Charles John Cole
C. Fairfax
Leopold Maxse
William C. Taylor
13–17 September. Ernest Maconchy
?
Thomas Arembery Tombe C. Haynes B.C. Skottowe
G. Egerton
W. Ware
J. Bayly
Thomas Arembery Tombe
6-2 6-4
F. Crowdy
G. Egerton
W. Ware
Miss. Coulthard
6-2 6-4
Thomas Arembery Tombe
Miss. Cole
15–17 September. Arthur Wellesley Soames
6-3 6-5 6-5
A.H. Trevor S. Twining A.R.N. Coles
Charles John Chichester Smith
19 September. F. Durant
6-4 6-5
E.M. Turner A. Hotham
Granville Croft
Mr. Baines
Major Lee's
19–24 September. William Renshaw
6–0, 6–1, 6–1
Robert Wallace Braddell Ernest Browne
Michael Gallwey McNamara
Henry Blane Porter
24-25 September.[41] Truro LTC Open Tournament
Truro, Cricket Club
Truro, Cornwall, England
Grass
H. Mann
?
Francis Joseph Ridgway Lancelot Melvill Haslope
Robert Fox
Charles Reginald Gerveys Grylls
H.E. Lambe
T.W. Wilson
26 September-2 October.[42] Montague Hankey
6-2 6-3 6-0
J. G. Johnson Rev. Edmond Bennet Brackenbury
E.W. Brooke
John Dalby Dewhurst
Edward George Farquharson
H. Fort
F.E. Rooke

October

DateTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist
3–10 October Robert Barron Templer
2-0 (sets)
H. Irwin M. Blacker
E. J. Wolfe
M. Blacker
A. Burke
C. S. Poole
V. De. Tattersall
Challenge round
Robert Shaw Templer
3–10 October.[44] Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Tournament
Brighton Lawn Tennis Club
Queen's Park, Brighton, East Sussex, England
Grass
C. Fairfax
6-1, 6-4, 7-5
A.O. Jennings W.P. Bowyer
Leonard Dampier
A. Evelegh
Robert Howden Kellie
H. Langton
W. Stuckey
4–10 October Michael Gallwey McNamara
2-6 6-2 6-0 6-1
Charles John Cole
Charles Walder Grinstead
Humphery H. Berkley
H. Brooker
George S. Murray Hill
H. M. Nichol
Henry B. Thornhill
Miss. E. Munt
6-3, 6-1
Orlando R. Coote
Miss. Leila Lodwick
26–28 October.[45] John Jameson Cairnes
7-5 6-2 6-3
James Rankine Charles F. Watson Sr.
F. Ennis
W. P. Anderson
R. J. Cross
H. Henry
James Rankine

December

No events

List of tournament winners

Note: important tournaments are written in bold

  • William Renshaw—Cheltenham, Irish Championships, Princes Club, Wimbledon—(4)
  • Richard Taswell Richardson—Aigburth, Waterloo, Northern Championships—(2)
  • Michael G. McNamara—Brighton-Waterford—(2)
  • Edward North Buxton—Lowick, Woodford Parish—(1)
  • Richard SearsU.S. National Championships—(1)
  • Richard Barron Templer—Armagh—(1)
  • Pelham Von Donop—Bath—(1)
  • E. J. Charley—Belfast—(1)
  • F. L. Rawson—Belfast—(1)
  • Montague Hankey—Bournemouth—(1)
  • C. Fairfax —Brighton—(1)
  • Barcley Fowell Buxton—Cambridge—(1)
  • Ernest Renshaw -Cheltenham (indoor)—(1)
  • Dale Womersley—Colchester—(1)
  • F. E. Rook—Cirencester—(1)
  • A. Springett—Darlington—(1)
  • Robert Shaw Templer—Dundalk—(1)
  • Edgar Lubbock—Eastbourne—(1)
  • Walter William Chamberlain—Edgbaston—(1)
  • John Galbraith Horn—Edinburgh—(1)
  • Leslie Balfour-Melville—Edinburgh—(1)
  • C. Martineau —Esher—(1)
  • Spencer Cox—Exeter—(1)
  • E. W. Mancounchy—Exmouth—(1)
  • Edmond Bennett Brackenbury—Limerick—(1)
  • Herbert Lawford—London—(1)
  • Frederick Lawrence Rawson—London—(1)
  • Richard Mercer—Maidstone—(1)
  • Louis Whyte—Melbourne—(1)
  • Peter Aungier—Naas—(1)
  • John Jameson Cairnes -New York -(1)
  • A.W. Soames-St Leonards-on-Sea-(1)
  • Jonas Henry William Gardner-Stafford-(1)
  • Champion Branfill Russell—Teignmouth—(1)
  • Ernest Maconchy-Torquay-(1)
  • Isidore F. Hellmuth—Toronto—(1)
  • Wilfred Milne—Weybridge—(1)

Rankings

Source: The Concise History of Tennis

Karoly Mazak World Rankings for 1881 [47]
Player
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

See also

Sources

  • A Social History of Tennis in Britain: Lake, Robert J. (2014), Volume 5 of Routledge Research in Sports History. Routledge, UK, .
  • Ayre's Lawn Tennis Almanack And Tournament Guide, 1908 to 1938, A. Wallis Myers.
  • British Lawn Tennis and Squash Magazine, 1948 to 1967, British Lawn Tennis Ltd, UK.
  • Dunlop Lawn Tennis Almanack And Tournament Guide, G.P. Hughes, 1939 to 1958, Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd, UK
  • Lawn tennis and Badminton Magazine, 1906 to 1973, UK.
  • Lowe's Lawn Tennis Annuals and Compendia, Lowe, Sir F. Gordon, Eyre & Spottiswoode
  • Spalding's Lawn Tennis Annuals from 1885 to 1922, American Sports Pub. Co, USA.
  • Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice, Nauright John and Parrish Charles, (2012), ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara, Cal, US, .
  • The Concise History of Tennis, Mazak Karoly, (2010), 6th Edition, 2015.
  • Tennis; A Cultural History, Gillmeister Heiner, (1997), Leicester University Press, Leicester, UK.
  • The Tennis Book, edited by Michael Bartlett and Bob Gillen, Arbor House, New York, 1981
  • The World of Tennis Annuals, Barrett John, 1970 to 2001.
  • Total Tennis:The Ultimate Tennis Encyclopedia, by Bud Collins, Sport Classic Books, Toronto, Canada,
  • Wright & Ditson Officially Adopted Lawn Tennis Guide's 1890 to 1920 Wright & Ditsons Publishers, Boston, Mass, USA.
  • http://www.tennisarchives.com/1881 Men's Tennis season
  • https://app.thetennisbase.com/1881 Men's Tennis season

External links

  • http://tennisarchives.com/
  • https://thetennisbase.com/

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tennis season 1881. thetennisbase.com. The Tennis Base, 2016. 9 December 2016.
  2. Web site: Archives. Tennis. Tournaments 1881. www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives, 2016. 9 December 2016.
  3. Web site: USTA HISTORY ARCHIVE. usta.com. USTA. 17 July 2016.
  4. Book: John . Nauright . Charles . Parrish. Sports around the world : history, culture, and practice. 2012. ABC-CLIO. Santa Barbara, Calif.. 9781598843002. 198.
  5. Web site: Abolition of Challenge Rounds. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. EVENING POST, VOLUME CIII, ISSUE 65, 20 MARCH 1922. 6 October 2016.
  6. Book: Nauright. John. Parrish. Charles. Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice. 2012. ABC-CLIO. Santa Barbara, Calif.. 9781598843002. 198.
  7. Book: Gillmeister. Heiner. Tennis:Cultural History. 1998. A&C Black. London. 9780718501952. 199.
  8. Book: Mazak. Karoly. The Concise History of Tennis. 2017. Independently published. 9781549746475. 5–36. English.
  9. Book: Lake. Robert J.. A Social History of Tennis in Britain: Volume 5 of Routledge Research in Sports History. 2014. Routledge. 9781134445578. 48.
  10. Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.68.
  11. Web site: Nieuwland . Alex . Edition – Cheltenham Covered Courts 1881 . www.tennisarchives.com . Tennis Archives . 8 July 2022.
  12. Web site: Irish Championships 1881. tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 28 July 2016.
  13. Web site: Nieuwland . Alex . Edition – St. George's Hill 1881 . www.tennisarchives.com . Iddznew BV . 8 July 2022.
  14. Web site: Nieuwland . Alex . Edition – Oxford University Tournament 1881 . www.tennisarchives.com . A. Nieuwland . 11 July 2022.
  15. Web site: Nieuwland . Alex . Edition – Cambridge University LTC 1881 . www.tennisarchives.com . Iddznew BV . 8 July 2022.
  16. Web site: Waterloo, Liverpool 1881. tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 28 July 2016.
  17. Web site: Prince's Club Tournament 1881. tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 28 July 2016.
  18. Web site: Essex Championships 1881. tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 27 October 2016.
  19. Web site: Nieuwland . Alex . Edition – Liverpool Cricket Club Tournament 1881 . www.tennisarchives.com . Tennis Archives . 8 July 2022.
  20. Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.69.
  21. Web site: Championship Roll of Honour. thenorthern.co.uk. The Northern Lawn Tennis Club. 26 October 2016.
  22. OPEN TOURNAMENT AT ROCHESTER. The 19th Rochester Open tournament. which extends over three days, was continued on Saturday, the weather being somewhat more favourable than on the opening day. Sporting Life. (Monday 6 August 1900). The British Newspaper Archive. London, England. page.3.
  23. Web site: The Championships 1881:Gentlemen's All-Comers' Singles. wimbledon.com. All England Lawn Tennis Club. 17 July 2016.
  24. Book: Winslow. F. L. The Lawn Tennis Annual 1882. 1882. Frederick Warne & Co. London.
  25. Web site: Scottish Championships 1881 Final. tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 10 August 2016.
  26. Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881
  27. Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882
  28. Web site: Nieuwland . Alex . Edition – Woodford Parish 1881 . www.tennisarchives.com . Iddznew BV.
  29. Web site: Tournaments:Litchfield/Stafford - Staffordshire Championships . The Tennis Base . Tennismem SL . 25 May 2023 . Madrid. subscription.
  30. Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.70.
  31. Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.69.
  32. Book: Lake. J Robert. A Social History of Tennis in Britain:Volume 5 of Routledge Research in Sports History. 2014. Routledge. London, UK. 9781134445578. 73.
  33. Web site: Dundalk 1881. tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 29 July 2016.
  34. Book: Jones . Ken . Newcastle-Emlyn more miscellany : more local facts that you might not have known about : until now!! . 2014 . Summerhill Press . Newcastle Emlyn . 0955662540 . 303–318.
  35. Web site: Nieuwland . Alex . Edition – Cirencester Park Tournament 1881 . www.tennisarchives.com . Iddznew BV . 8 July 2022.
  36. News: LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT AT ALDERSHOT. The third annual Aldershot Division Open Lawn Tennis Tournament commenced at the Club Grounds, Aldershot, on Tuesday, the 30th August, and continued daily during the week.. Aldershot Military Gazette . British Newspaper Archive . 10 September 1881 . Aldershot, Hampshire, England . 5.
  37. Web site: Edition – Aldershot 1881 . www.tennisarchives.com . Tennis Archives . 10 January 2023.
  38. "VALE OF CLWYD LAWN TENNIS AND CRICKET CLUB. THE THIRD ANNUAL LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT 'will be held' at DENBIGH, on 30 August and following days. GENTLEMEN'S SINGLES EVENT to be called the North Wales Counties Challenge Cup, the value, not less than 10 guineas, to be given by the Vale of Clwyd Club". North Wales Chronicle. Caernarfon, Caernarfonshire, Wales: The British Newspaper Archive. 11 August 1883. p. 1.
  39. Web site: Torquay 1881. .tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 27 October 2016.
  40. Web site: Nieuwland . Alex . Edition – St. Leonards-On-Sea 1881 . www.tennisarchives.com . Tennis Archives . 8 July 2022.
  41. News: TRURO LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT: This ninth annual open tournament, under the auspices of the Truro Lawn Tennis Club, was concluded on last Friday evening.. Royal Cornwall Gazette. British Newspaper Archives . 16 August 1888. Truro, Cornwall, England. 6.
  42. Web site: Lawn Tennis. trove.nla.gov.au. National Library of Australia, The Mercury Newspaper, Hobart, Australia, 9 August 1910. 18 July 2016.
  43. Web site: Armagh tournament draw 1881. thetennisbase.com. The Tennis Base. 29 July 2016.
  44. Web site: Nieuwland . Alex . Edition – Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Tournament 1881 . www.tennisarchives.com . Iddznew BV . 8 July 2022.
  45. Web site: Engraving: Lawn Tennis Tournament at the St. Georges Club Ground, Hoboken, New Jersey, October 27, 1881. - Print Hoboken Historical Museum . hoboken.pastperfectonline.com . Hoboken Historical Museum . 23 February 2023.
  46. Web site: Intercolonial Lawn Tennis Championships. National Library of Australia, The Argus, Melbourne, 12 November 1881. 18 July 2016.
  47. Book: Mazak. Karoly. The Concise History of Tennis. 2010. 9.