| 1881 Women's tennis season | |
| Duration: | 19 April – 8 October |
| Edition: | 6th |
| Tournaments: | 39 (Amateur) |
| Categories: | Important (1) National (0) Provincial/Regional/State (3) County (5) Regular (24) |
| Most Tournament Titles: | Gertrude Gibbs (3) |
| Most Tournament Finals: | Gertrude Gibbs (3) |
| Previous: | 1880 |
| Next: | 1882 |
The 1881 Women's tennis season was a tennis circuit composed of 39 national, regional, county, and regular tournaments. The season began in April in Cheltenham, England, and ended in October in Queen's Park, Brighton, England.
Prior to the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913 the Wimbledon Championships, the U.S. National Championships, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and the Northern Championships were considered by players and historians as the four most important tennis tournaments to win.[1] [2] [3]
This year for women there would be a tennis circuit of sorts starting to form.[4] 1881 also sees the first indoor tournament for women the Cheltenham Covered Court Championships organised by the Cheltenham Lawn Tennis Club and played on wood courts at the Imperial Winter Gardens, Cheltenham, England.[5]
At the only major event to feature women's competition the Irish Championships[6] in Dublin the women's singles and doubles events were not held, but a mixed doubles event was staged won by Ireland's Mary Abercrombie and England's William Renshaw. In terms of draw size the Exmouth Open was the largest as far as women competitors were concerned with 26 in the main singles draw.
In May 1881 the first national tennis association is formed that being the United States Lawn Tennis Association.[7] At the first official U.S. National Championships there was no women's events and it would be eight years before there would be.[8] In Australia the University of Sydney Lawn Tennis Club formed in 1881 and officially incorporated in 1885, was the only venue in the country following admission of women undergraduates to have active players.[9]
At the 1881 Wimbledon Championships the world's first major tennis tournament, it still remained an all men's event, no women's events were staged. On 26 November 1881 indoor tennis was played inside the 7th Regiment Armory in New York City on with twelve courts for the use of women.[10] In 1913 the International Lawn Tennis Federation was created, that consisted of national member associations. The ILTF through its associated members then became responsible for supervising women's tour events.
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),[11] in some tournaments not all.
X Indicates challenge round final * Indicates doubles ** mixed doubles
This year 26 singles, 7 doubles and 20 mixed doubles events were held.
Key
| Main events.[12] [13] [14] [15] | |
| National events | |
| provincial/state/regional events | |
| County events | |
| Regular events |
No events
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Apr.[16] | Cheltenham Covered Court Championships Imperial Winter Gardens Cheltenham, England Wood (i) Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles | Marion Bradley 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 | Florence Mardall | Mary Abercrombie Ellen Ramsay | Edith Atherley Mrs Hill Frances Morris Mrs H. Ramsay |
| Clara Hill* Ellen Ramsay 6-1, 6-3 | Mrs Dark Miss Jones | ||||
Miss Williams**  Ernest Browne default | Florence Mardall Henry Blane Porter | ||||
| Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi Finalist | Quarter Finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 May[17] | Devonshire Park Championships (Spring) Devonshire Park LTC Eastbourne, England Grass Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles | Agnes Watts 2 sets to 0 | E Hudson | ||
| Agnes Watts** Sidney Alfred Noon 2 sets to 0t | E Hudson E.R. Hudson | ||||
| 19 May[18] | North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament Kettering, England Grass Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles - | Rose Collier 6-0, 6-5 | M Blencowe | ||
| Miss E. Hall * Miss H.B. Upcher Won | |||||
| Gertrude Gibbs 6-0, 7-5 | Clara Hill | Georgina Kirkby Florence Mardall | |||
| Florence Mardall** Henry Blane Porter 6-0, 8-6 | Grace Gibbs William Bush-Salmon | ||||
| 28 May | Irish Championships Fitzwilliam LTC Dublin, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Mary Abercrombie ** William Renshaw 6–3, 5–7, 6–2, 6–3 | Miss Costello Spencer Duncan Maul | ||
** (denotes mix doubles)
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi Finalist | Quarter Finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun | Gertrude Gibbs 6-0, 7-5 | Georgina Kirkby Florence Mardall | |||
| Florence Mardall** Henry Blane Porter 6-0, 8-6 | Grace Gibbs William J. Bush-Salmon | ||||
| 19 Jun.[20] | Miss Nixon * Miss Black Won |  Miss F. Fitzroy Algernon Aylmer | |||
| 26 Jun.[21] | Miss A. Stobart * Miss E. Hunt Def | Miss E. Hall Miss F. Lightfoot | |||
| Mrs Upcher Mr. A. Pulteney def | Miss Bell Mr H. Stockdale | ||||
* (denotes doubles) ** (denotes mix doubles)
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | All comers' finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul[22] | Championship of the Sydney LTC Sydney LTC Bath II, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Freeling Won | ? | ||
| 7 Jul.[23] | Miss Healey ** Mr A.J. Wise 2–1 sets | Miss Springett Mr. J. L. Shann | |||
| 11 Jul.[24] | Miss Gorham ** Mr C. Lachlan 2–1 sets | Miss Springett Mr. J. L. Shann | |||
| 12 Jul.[25] | Bedfordshire LTC Tournament Befordshire LTC Blenham, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss L. Archdale Won | ? | ||
| 16 Jul | Staffordshire C.C.C. Tournament Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Club Lichfield, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles - | Rose Collier 6-0, 6-5 | M Blencowe | ||
| M Blencowe** A. Blencowe 6-1, 6-3 | Mrs Peters-Smith A Denton | ||||
| 23 Jul | Maud Watson 6-3 6-1 6-4 | Lilian Watson | K. Stretton | K.H. Cartland Miss Chamberlain K. Holliday | |
| Lilian Watson* Maud Watson 6-1, 6-3 | K. Cartland * L. Hutton | ||||
| 26 Jul.[26] | Norwich Open Norwich LTC Norwich, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss M. Raikes 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 | Miss Burleigh | ||
| 30 Jul | London Athletic Club Open Tournament Stamford Bridge, England Grass Singles - Doubles | M Raikes 5-0, 5-2 | Miss Burleigh | ||
(*denotes doubles) (**denotes mix doubles)
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi Finalist | Quarter Finalist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Aug. | Miss Gibson ** Jasper Gibson 2–0 sets | Mrs Peters-Smith Mr A Denton | ||||
| 4 Aug.[27] | website=www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 7 August 2023. | Gertrude Gibbs | Marian Smith | |||
| 6 Aug | Darlington Association Tournament Darlington, England Grass Singles - Mix Doubles | Ethel Surtees 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 | Alice Cheese | LML Turner | Minnie Congreve Winifred Fenwick Mrs JB Dale | |
| Alice Cheese ** J.B. Dale 9-7, 6-3 | Winifred Fenwick Percival C. Fenwick | |||||
| County Kildare Championship[28] County Limerick CC Naas, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles – | Miss C. Vesey Won | Miss F. Metcalfe | ||||
| Miss F. Metcalfe ** Algeron Aylmer won | ||||||
| May Langrishe 6-2, 6-1 | Adela Langrishe | Ann Gallwey | Miss Hunt Beatrice Langrishe | |||
| 8 Aug | K. Rayner 6-0 6-0 | L. Cheetham | H. Rayner | Alice Bagnall-Wild A. Barry | ||
| A. Barry * F. Helder 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 | Miss Jardine Miss Jones | |||||
| K. Rayner ** J.F. Carde 6-1, 12-10 | Alice Bagnall-Wild E. Bucknell | |||||
| 10 Aug[29] | South Berkshire Tournament South Berks LTC Caversham, England Grass Singles – | Miss Stokes Won | ||||
| 12 Aug | Lilian Cole 6-0, 6-0 | Eveline Belfield | Maude Taylor | Mary Hoare M. Smith | ||
| Georgiana Kindersley ** Henry Kindersley 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 | ||||||
| Miss Charley ** C. Goldsmid 2–1 sets | Miss. Spunner Mr. C.H. Wright | |||||
| 19 Aug.[31] | Miss Knox ** R Knox 2–1 sets | Beatrice Langrishe William Renshaw | ||||
| 21 Aug | Marian Smith 8-6, 6-1 | Miss Westropp | Mary Lysaght | |||
| 26 Aug. | Miss Power ** Charles Cole def | Miss Robinson Champion Russell | ||||
| 30 Aug | South Wales Championships Tenby LTC Tenby, Wales Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Kemmis ** P.J. Ashe 8-6, 6-1 | Miss Jones Mr Rock | |||
| 31 Aug | Sittingbourne & Gore Court Ladies Open Gore Court LTC Sittingbourne, England Grass Singles – | Miss M Malden 6–3, 6–3 | Miss Goodwin | |||
| Aldershot Division Open[32] Aldershot Division LTC Aldershot, England Grass Singles – | Miss Draper 2–0 sets | Miss Pritchard | ||||
(* denotes doubles)
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi Finalist | Quarter Finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep. | Miss L Williams 5–3, 5–3 | Miss Proctor | |||
| 8 Sep | Miss Arkwright 6–4, 6–1 | Miss Johnson | |||
| 15 Sep. | Augusta Langley 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 | Miss Smith | |||
| 17 Sep. | Miss Coulthard ** Mr.W. Ware 2–1 sets. | Lilian Cole Thomas A. Tombe | |||
| 19 Sep. | Miss Smith ** Mr Burke def. | Miss Smith Mr A. Hotham | |||
| 24 Sep. | Gertrude Gibbs 6-4, 6-4 | Miss Perry | Marion Bradley Clara Hill | Mary Abercrombie Florence Mardall Ellen Ramsay | |
| Clara Hill * Ellen Ramsay 6-1, 6-3 | Mrs Dark Miss Jones | ||||
(*denotes doubles) (**denotes mix doubles)
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi Finalist | Quarter Finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct. | Edith Coleridge 6-5, 6-2 | Leila Lodwick | M. Walker | ||
| Miss Maltby * E. Munt 6-2, 6-2 | Miss Saint-Clair M. Walker | ||||
| E. Munt ** H.B. Thornhill 6-3, 6-1 | Leila Lodwick Orlando R. Coote | ||||
| 8 Oct. | Edith Coleridge 6-5, 4-6, 6-2 | Eva Adshead | Leila Lodwick | ||
| Miss Munt ** H.B. Thornhill 6-3, 6-1 | Leila Lodwick Orlando R. Coote | ||||
No events
This is list of winners sorted by number of singles titles (# and main titles in bold)
Miss Draper (1) Aldershot Lilian Cole (1) Exmouth Miss C. Vesey 1) Naas May Langrishe (1) WaterfordThis is list of winners sorted by number of doubles titles (# and main titles in bold)
Connie Butler & May Langrishe (1) Irish ChampionshipsThis is list of winners sorted by number of mixed doubles titles (# and main titles in bold)
Miss Costello & Spencer D. Maul (1) Eastbourne Ernest Browne (1) Cheltenham