| 1886 Women's tennis season | |
| Duration: | 3 February – 30 December |
| Edition: | 11th |
| Tournaments: | 57 |
| Categories: | Important (3) National (3) Provincial/Regional/State (12) County (8) Regular (31) |
| Most Tournament Titles: |  May Langrishe (4) |
| Most Tournament Finals: | Maud Watson (6) |
| Previous: | 1885 |
| Next: | 1887 |
The 1886 Women's tennis season was a tennis circuit composed of 57 national, regional, county, and regular tournaments. The season began in February in London, England, and ended in December in Napier, New Zealand.[1]
From 1888 until 1912 Britain's Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), grew in status and influence to become the de facto international tennis governing body before the proper International Lawn Tennis Federation commenced operations.[2] Despite the United States National Lawn Tennis Association (USNLTA) forming in 1881 a good seven years before the LTA, it was the British body that set laws, settled disputes and organized the increasingly complicated tournament calendar before the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) formed in March, 1913.[3]
After the formation of the ILTF the world tennis circuit going forward was a highly organised and structured network of national and international tournaments.[4] Most tennis tournaments were usually mixed events for men and women, and the women's international tennis circuit certainly up to 1923 was composed mainly of tournaments on the British and European Circuits.[5] After the USNLTA joined the ILTF this would later change with more and more tournaments being staged globally. Women tennis players on the world circuit up to the open era were funded by their national associations enabling them to travel and take part in international tournaments.[6]
1886 sees a decrease in the number women's singles events being held as the tennis circuit continues to form.[7] The 1886 women's tennis season began on 3 February with the Hyde Park Court Covered Courts Tournament, London, Hyde Park Court.[1] In May 1886 at the first major event of the year the Irish Championships[8] played at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, Ireland. Ireland's May Langrishe wins the singles title for her third and final title defeating the up-and-coming Louisa Martin, she also picks up the mixed doubles title with Eyre Chatterton.[1] The ladies doubles event is won by Connie Butler and Louisa Martin. In terms of draw size the West of England Championships was the largest tournament of the year with a draw of 46 across three events.
In June 1886 at the second major tournament of the year, the Northern Championships played at the Liverpool Cricket Club in Liverpool, featured a full schedule of events the singles title going to Maud Watson defeating Lottie Dod in straights sets, the women's doubles event was won by the sister pairing of Ann Dod and Lottie Dod who defeat a Miss Cliff and May Langrishe in the final, the mixed doubles event is won by Margaret Bracewell and William Renshaw who defeat Lottie Dod and Harry Grove in the final.[1]
In July at the 1886 Wimbledon Championships the world's first major tennis tournament, Blanche Bingley defeats two-time defending champion Maud Watson in straight sets to claim her first major title.[9]
In August at the U.S. National Championships played on the outdoor Grass courts at the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island there was still no women's championship events staged. The season ended on 30 December 1886 at the first New Zealand Championships, Napier, New Zealand played on grass.[1]
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.[10] [11] [12]
Key
| Important.[13] [14] [15] [16] | |
| National | |
| Provincial/State/Regional | |
| County | |
| Regular |
No events
* (denotes doubles) ** (denotes mix doubles)
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Feb. | No Ladies Singles | ||||
| Ethel Gurney ** Herbert Chipp 6–4, 4–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Blanche Bingley Harry Grove | ||||
No events
No events
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May | Killiney and Ballybrack Championships[17] Ballybrack LTC Killiney and Ballybrack Killiney and Ballybrack, Ireland Grass | May Langrishe 6–4, 3–6, 6–1 | Beatrice Langrishe | ||
| 15 May. | Inter-Colonial Lawn Tennis Tournament[18] (Championship of New South Wales) Sydney, Australia Asphalt Singles - Doubles |  C. Greene6–3, 6–2 | Eliza Fitzgerald | E Beamon H Beaumont Eva Rodd Miss McLean | |
| Annie Lamb C. Greene 6–1, 6–4 | Beatrice Metcalfe Eva Rodd | ||||
| Zilla Scott Louis Whyte 6–1, 6–5 | Eliza Fitzgerald Robert Fitzgerald | ||||
| 22 May | West of Scotland Championships[19] Pollokshields, Scotland Grass Singles - Doubles | Jane Meikle 6–4, 5–7, 6–0 | |||
| Jane Meikle Walter Chamberlain 6–1, 6–2 | Julia MacKenzie John Galbraith Horn | ||||
| 29 May. | May Langrishe 6–3, 6–4 | Connie Butler Beatrice Langrishe | Mabel Cahill Miss Exham Miss Hodson Adela Langrishe | ||
| Connie Butler Louisa Martin 6–3, 6–4 | Beatrice LangrisheMay Langrishe | ||||
| May Langrishe Eyre Chatterton 6–0, 6–2, 6–1 | Adela Langrishe Toler Roberts Garvey | ||||
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 June.[21] | Lottie Dod 6–1, 6–2 | Blanche Bingley Connie Butler Edith Davies N. Pope | |||
| 4 Jun | Whitehouse Open[22] Whitehouse LTC Edinburgh, Scotland Clay Singles - Doubles | Jane Meikle 6–2, 6–2 | Miss Meikle | ||
| J. Ferguson A. Steel 6–3, 6–2 | E. Ferguson W. Ferguson | ||||
| 5 June. | No Ladies Singles | No Ladies Doubles | |||
| Ellen Wilson ** Edward J. Avory 9–7, 6–1 | Miss Wing J.E. Passmore | ||||
| 13 Jun | East Gloucestershire Championship Challenge Cup Cheltenham LTC Cheltenham, England Singles - Doubles | Louisa Martin 6–4, 6–4 |  Margaret Bracewell Blanche Bingley | Constance Bryan Lottie Dod Edith Gurney Beatrice Langrishe | |
| Margaret Bracewell William Renshaw 6–4, 6–4 | Blanche Bingley James Dwight | ||||
| 16 Jun.[23] | Welsh Championships Penarth LTC Penarth, Wales Singles - Doubles | L. Browne 4–6, 6–1, 6–3 | L.C. Stephens | A. Reynolds M. Reynolds | Mrs Hill Miss Norton E.J. Stephens B. Trayes |
| 19 Jun | Scottish Championships[24] Edinburgh University Club Edinburgh, Scotland Grass Singles - Doubles | Mabel Boulton 3–6, 6–0, 6–2, 4–6 6-2 | J. Ferguson Miss Meikle | E. Ferguson Jane Meikle Miss MacKenzie | |
| London Championships[25] London Athletic Club London, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Blanche Bingley 6–1, 6–1 | Edith Gurney B. Hannaford | |||
| 24 Jun | Badsworth Hunt Tournament[26] Ackworth House Pontefract, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Beatrice Wood 6–0, 6–0 | Miss Smith | ||
| Redhill Open Lawn Tennis Tournament[27] Redhill, England Grass Singles - Doubles | J. Wray 6–1, 6–2 | Miss Wing | |||
| 26 Jun | Warriston Park LTC Tournament[28] Edinburgh, Scotland Grass Singles - Doubles | Jane Meikle 5–7, 6–1, 6–1 | |||
| Clifton Open[29] Clifton, England Singles - Doubles | Beatrice Langrishe 6–2, 7–5 | N Pope | Clara Hill Margaret Fyffe | Miss Bryant Gratian Fyffe Marian Fyffe A. James | |
| N Pope James Baldwin 8–6, 6–4 | Clara Hill John Charles Kay | ||||
| 30 June. | Maud Watson 6–3, 9–7 | Miss L Cheetham Emily Fletcher | N. Garnett A. McLaren B. McLaren K. Mitchell | ||
| Ann Dod Lottie Dod 6–3, 9–7 | Miss Cliff May Langrishe | ||||
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul | Edgbaston Open Tournament[31] Edgbaston CLTC Edgbaston, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Margaret Bracewell 6–2, 6–2 | |||
| Midland Counties Championships[32] Edgbaston CLTC Edgbaston, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Blanche Bingley 6–2, 6–2 | Miss Noon F. Lawrence | Margaret Bracewell Bertha Steedman Eva Steedman Mary Steedman | ||
| Blanche Bingley Lilian Watson 6–4, 6–2 | Bertha Steedman Mary Steedman | ||||
| Maud Watson John Redfern Deykin 7–5, 6–1, 4–6, 2–6, 8–6 | Margaret Bracewellll William Renshaw | ||||
| 3 Jul | Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Tournament[33] Stafford Institute LTC Stafford, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Agnes Noon 2–6, 6–4, 6–2 | Barbara Noon | ||
| No Ladies Singles | |||||
| Alice Cheese E. Cheese 6–1, 2–6, 11–9 | Connie Butler Miss Marley | ||||
| Connie Butler Charles Liddle 6–4, 4–6, 8–6 | Miss Marley Kenneth Ramsden Marley | ||||
| Mabel Grant 6–3, 6–2 | L. Button | ||||
| 10 Jul. | No Ladies Singles | No Ladies Doubles | |||
| Arthur Neville John Story Miss Aileen Malcom 6–3, 6–2 | Archibald Thomson Miss. Daphne Hay | ||||
| No Ladies Singles | No Ladies Doubles | ||||
| Walter Reid Craig Miss Rose Viener 6–3, 4–6, 6–2 | Montagu Howarth Miss. Rebecca Moore | ||||
| 12 Jul. | Chapel Allerton LTC Tournament[36] Chapel Allerton LTC Chapel Allerton, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Louisa Moir 6–3, 5–6, 6–5 | Isabel Tannett | ||
| Beatrice Wood Arthur Meysey-Thompson 6–5, 6–2 | Mrs Carpenter Cedric F. Palmer | ||||
| Ilkley Open Tournament[37] Ilkley LTC Ilkley, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Beatrice Wood 3–6, 6–5, 6–0 | Jean Moir | |||
| 15 Jul. | No Ladies Singles | No Ladies Doubles | |||
| F.A. Clark Miss Denton 6–4, 4–6, 8–6 | Frank Noon Mrs Hodson | ||||
| Katharine Hill 6–5, 6–3 | Jane Pickthall | Mary McConnell Catherine Jones | |||
| 16 Jul. | Chiswick Park Club Open Lawn Tennis Tournament[39] Chiswick, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Douglas 6–4, 6–0 | May Jacks | Blanche Bingley Lena Rice | |
| Blanche Bingley William Renshaw 7–5, 6–1 | May Jacks William Taylor | ||||
| 17 Jul. | Blanche Bingley 6–3, 6–3 | AM Chambers Julia Mackenzie FM Pearson J Shackle | |||
| 22 Jul | Taunton and West Somerset Lawn Tennis Tournament[41] Taunton, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Nora Pope 6–1, 6–2 | Georgina Gilling-Lax Miss Woodhouse | Beatrice Adey Miss Chapman Ada Meyler Constance Meyler | |
| Alice Bagnall-Wild Nora Pope 6–2, 6–0 | Miss Escott Georgina Gilling-Lax | ||||
| 24 Jul. | Kilkenny County and City Tournament[42] Kilkenny, Ireland Grass Singles - Doubles | Mabel Cahill 7–5, 6–2, 6–4 | Miss Kenealy | Miss Butler Adela Langrishe | |
| May Langrishe Ernest Brown 6–1, 6–1, 6–1 | Mabel Cahill Francis Swayne | ||||
| Ealing Championships Ealing LTC Ealing, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Charlotte Cooper 6–4, 5–7, 6–4 | Alice Brown | Edith Gurney Bertha Steedman | ||
| South of Ireland Championships.[43] Limerick, Ireland Grass Singles | Miss Smith 6–1, 6–4 | G. Bailey | Mary Lysaght Mildred Smith | ||
| Mary Lysaght William Bredin 6–5, 5–6, 6–2, 6–5 | Miss Gloster Edward Westropp | ||||
| Leicester Open Lawn Tennis Tournament[44] Leicester, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Agnes Watts Florence Noon title divided | Florence Mardall Effie Noon | Mrs Hill L. Snook Miss Snook Miss Hudson | ||
| Florence Mardall Agnes Watts 6–2, 6–0 | Miss Lorrimer Miss Snook | ||||
| Florence Noon Frank Noon 6–3, 6–2 | Florence Mardall William N. Cobbold | ||||
| 28 Jul. | Leamington Open Tournament Leamington Spa, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Gertrude Mellersh 6–4, 6–4 | Margaret Bracewell | ||
| Mrs Hornby Charles Ross 6–2, 6–3 | Gertrude Mellersh Thomas Mellersh | ||||
| 31 Jul. | Northumberland County Association Tournament Newcastle upon Tyne, England Grass Singles - Doubles | No Ladies Singles | |||
| Connie Butler Miss A. Clayton 6–1, 2–6, 11–9 | Mrs R. Clayton Winifred Fenwick | ||||
| Miss A. Clayton Patrick Bowes-Lyon 6–4, 4–6, 8–6 | Connie Butler Charles Liddle | ||||
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug | East of Ireland Championships[45] Howth LTC Howth, Ireland Grass Singles - Doubles | May Langrishe 6–3, 6–2 | Isabella Smyth | Noeleen Boyle Agnes Moore | Ada Atthill Elizabeth Crofton Jane McClintock Ida Perry |
| 6 Aug | Darlington Association Tournament[46] Darlington, England Singles - Doubles | Florence Stanuell 6–2, 6–2 | Connie Butler Mrs J.T. Proud | ||
| Connie Butler Florence Stanuell 6–4, 6–3 | Miss Langley Ethel Surtees | ||||
| Florence Stanuell Patrick Bowes-Lyon 6–1, 7–5 | Connie Butler John Galbraith Horn | ||||
| 7 Aug | Exmouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament[47] Exmouth, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Maud Watson 7–5, 0–6, 6–3 | Constance Bryan Katherine Hole | Katharine Kindersley Leila Lodwick Lilian Watson | |
| Blanche Bingley William Renshaw 5–7, 7–5, 8–6 | Maud Watson John Redfern Deykin | ||||
| Hull Westbourne Avenue Open Tournament[48] Hull, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Constance Hodgson 7–5, 0–6, 6–3 | Miss Alfrey | |||
| Dorothy Boulton Mabel Boulton 6–3, 6–3 | Constance Hodgson Mrs Travers | ||||
| Mabel Boulton F.J. Hirst 6–3, 6–3 | A. Thorney A.W. McIlwaine | ||||
| May Langrishe 6–2, 6–1 | Ann Gallwey | Mabel Cahill Beatrice Langrishe | Frances Gallwey Miss Knox | ||
| H. Esmonde 2–6, 6–4, 6–2 | H.E. Moffat | Miss Brunskill K. Doran | Miss Beatty E. Doran | ||
| 11 Aug | East Grinstead Lawn Tennis Tournament East Grinstead, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Cobbold 3-6 6-1 6-1 | |||
| May Arbuthnot Miss Cobbold 6-4 6-3 | Miss Bird Miss Saint-Clair | ||||
| Miss Cobbold William N. Cobbold 6-2 6-0 | May Jacks Herbert Hockney | ||||
| 14 Aug | North of England Championships South Cliff LTC Scarborough, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Margaret Bracewell 6-4 8-6 | L. Brown Mrs W. Hill | Florence Mardall E. Robinson Miss RobinsonMiss Young | |
| Margaret Bracewell Florence Mardall 8-6 4-6 6-4 | E. Atkinson E. Rawlinson | ||||
| Margaret Bracewell Harry Grove 6-0 6-3 | Mrs Hill J.H. Aitken | ||||
| Teignmouth and Shaldon Open[51] Teignmouth, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Lillian Watson Maud Watson divided tile | ||||
| Lillian Watson John Redfern Deykin 6–1, 6–4 | J. Wray Charles Pine-Coffin | ||||
| 16 Aug | Felixstowe Open Lawn Tennis Tournament.[52] Felixstowe, England Singles - Doubles | A. Ridley 6–1, 6–5 | |||
| 19 Aug | Saxmundham LTC Tournament Saxmundham, England Grass Singles - Doubles | G. Rant 6-4, 6-5 | A. Forster | ||
| G. Rant Mrs Warwick 6-3 6-1 | |||||
| Kate Barkley R.G. Pollock 6-4 6-1 | Miss Bond Herbert Longe | ||||
| 21 Aug | South Wales and Monmouthshire Championships Tenby, Wales Grass Singles - Doubles | Katherine Hill 6-4 6-3 | Mary Agg | ||
| Mary Agg B. Henry 6-2 6-2 | V. Hardy C. Jones | ||||
| Mary Agg James Baldwin 6-3 6-3 | C. Jones E.W. David | ||||
| Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Tournament Harrogate, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Margaret Bracewell 5-7 8-6 3-0 retd. | Constance Hodgson Florence Mardall | Ethel Atkinson M. Crossley Miss Willett Beatrice Wood | ||
| Margaret Bracewell Florence Mardall 6-2 6-1 | E. Atkinson Ella Rawlinson | ||||
| Mabel Boulton B. Hartley 6-4 6-4 | Mrs W Hill John Galbraith Horn | ||||
| 23 Aug | South of Scotland Championships Beechgrove LTC Moffat, Scotland Grass Singles - Doubles | Ann Dod 6–3, 6–2 | Evelyn Blencowe | Lottie Paterson | A. Barry Ada Blencowe Jane McClintock Ida Perry |
| Ada Blencowe Evelyn Blencowe 7–5, 4–6, 6–1 | Ann Dod Miss Thomson | ||||
| Lottie Paterson Edward B. Morrison 9–7, 7–5 | Ann Dod Richard Millar Watson | ||||
| 26 Aug | Helmingham Invitation[53] Helmingham Estate Helmingham, England Grass Singles - Doubles | No Ladies Singles | No Ladies Doubles | ||
| Miss Austin Mr Wood 6–2, 6–0 | Miss Heasey Mr Addisou | ||||
| 28 Aug | Derbyshire Championships Buxton, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Louisa Martin 6–3, 6–0 | Blanche Bingley Mary Steedman | ||
| Lottie Dod May Langrishe 6–2, 7–5 | Louisa Martin Florence Stanuell | ||||
| Louisa Martin Tom Campion 6–3, 4–6, 6–2 | Alice Noon P. B. Brown | ||||
| 29 Aug | Bournemouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament[54] Dean Park Bournemouth, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Mrs Hornby 6–3, 6–3 | B. Hannaford | L. Elphinston Mrs Surman | M. Elphinston Miss Fryer Miss Vaughan Miss Wollaston |
| Miss Vaughan Leslie C. Wintle 6–2, 6–3 | Miss Palmer D.W. Donaldson | ||||
| 30 Aug | Whitby Open Lawn Tennis Tournament[55] Whitby, England Grass Singles - Doubles | G. Walters walkover | |||
| A. Walters G. Walters 6–2, 6–2 | Miss Wilkins E. Wilkins | ||||
| Mabel Hartley George E. Brewerton 6–4, 6–3 | L. Cheetham Arthur G. Pease | ||||
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Sep | South of England Championships[56] Eastbourne, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Margaret Bracewell 6–1, 6–3 | Florence Mardall Laura Triscott | E. Malcolm E. Monckton Mrs Kate Tullock Alice Strapp | |
| Margaret Bracewell Florence Mardall 6–4, 6–3 | Gertrude Mellersh Elizabeth Mocatta | ||||
| Margaret Bracewell John Galbraith Hornn 6–4, 8–6 | Florence Mardall Percy B. Brown | ||||
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct | New Haven Ladies Tournament[57] New Haven LTC New Haven, United States Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Leslie 6–1, 6–4 | Annie Miller | Miss Griggs Miss Kellogg | Miss L. Ives Miss Lynch N. B. Trowbridge Martha White |
| Miss Lente N. B. Trowbridge 6–1, 6–3 | Miss Briggs Miss Kellogg | ||||
| 29 Oct | Victorian Championships[58] Melbourne, Australia Grass Singles - Doubles | C. Greene 6–1, 6–1 | Ellen Mayne | Constance Raleigh Mabel Shaw | |
| Miss Mayne Mabel Shaw 6–1, 6–0 | Miss Barnard Miss Brunton |
No events
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Dec | New Zealand Championships[59] (1st ed) Farndon Park Napier, New Zealand Grass Singles - Doubles |  Sarah Lance6–2, 3–6, 6–1 | E Harman Mrs G Way | ||
| Sarah Lance Mrs G Way 6–1, 6–4 | Miss Hannin Miss Cotterill | ||||
| Hilda Hitchings EP Hudson 6–3, 6–1 | Sarah Lance HB Williams | ||||
| Napier Open Farndon Park Napier, New Zealand Grass Singles - Doubles | No Ladies Singles | No Ladies Doubles | |||
| Rose Tanner J.W. Begg 6–4, 6–0 | Hilda Hitchings R. Smith |
This is a list of winners by the total number of singles titles won for 1886 major titles in bold:
May Langrishe – Ballybrack, Howth, Irish Championships, Waterford (4) Margaret Bracewell – Eastbourne, Edgbaston II, Scarborough, (3) Louisa Martin – Buxton, Cheltenham, (2) C. Greene – Melbourne, Sydney, (2) Miss Leslie – New Haven, (1) Charlotte Cooper – Ealing, (1) Mabel Cahill – Kilkenny, (1) Sarah Lance – Napier, (1) J. Wray – Redhill, (1) Beatrice Langrishe – Clifton, (1) Agnes Noon – Stafford, (1) Louisa Moir – Chapel Allerton, (1) Nora Pope – Taunton, (1) Agnes Watts – Leicester, (1) Gertrude Mellersh – Leamington Spa, (1) H. Esmonde – Wexford, (1) Florence Noon – Leicester, (1) Florence Stanuell – Darlington, (1) Miss Cobbold – East Grinstead, (1) A. Ridley – Felixstowe, (1) G. Rant – Saxmundham, (1) Katherine Hill – Tenby, (1) Mrs Hornby – Bournemouth, (1) G. Walters – Whitby, (1) May Langrishe & Margaret Bracewell & Jane Meikle (3)