| 1887 Women's tennis season | |
| Duration: | 2 January – 24 December |
| Edition: | 12th |
| Tournaments: | 69 (singles) 100 (Inc doubles & mixed doubles) |
| Categories: | Major (4) National (3) Provincial/Regional/State (13) County (10) Regular (49) |
| Most Tournament Titles: | Lottie Dod (5) Margaret Bracewell (5) |
| Most Tournament Finals: | Maud Watson (7) |
| Previous: | 1886 |
| Next: | 1888 |
The 1887 Women's tennis season was a tennis circuit composed of 69 (singles) and 100 (Inc doubles and mixed doubles) national, regional, county, and regular tournaments. The season began in February in Auckland, New Zealand, and ended in December in Christchurch, 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]
1887 sees an increase in the number women's singles events being held as the tennis circuit continues to form.[7] The 1887 women's tennis season began on 2 January with the Farndon Park Open, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.[1] In May 1887 at the first major event of the year the Irish Championships[8] played at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, Ireland. England's Lottie Dod wins the singles title defeating Maud Watson, she also picks up the mixed doubles title with Ernest Renshaw.[1] The ladies doubles event is won by Louisa Martin and Florence Stanuell. In terms of draw size the West of England Championships was the largest tournament of the year with a draw of 56 across three events.
In June 1887 at the second major tournament of the year the Northern Championships played at the Northern Lawn Tennis Club in Manchester Lottie Dod collects her second major title beating Maud Watson in straights sets, the women's doubles event is won by the sister's Ann Dod and Lottie Dod who defeat a Louisa Martin and Florence Stanuell in the final in three sets, the mixed doubles event is won by Irish pair Louisa Martin and Tom Campion who defeat Lottie Dod and Harry Grove in the final.[1]
In July at the 1887 Wimbledon Championships the world's first major tennis tournament, Lottie Dod completes a clean sweep all the British and Irish major tournaments, when she defeats defending champion Blanche Bingley in straight sets to claim her third major title.[9] [10]
In September at the U.S. National Championships a women's event is staged for the first time at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, PA and was played after the men's tournament had ended. 17-year-old Philadelphian Ellen Hansell became the first women's champion, defeating Laura Knight in straight sets.[11] The season ended on 24 December 1887 at the New Zealand Championships, held in Christchurch, 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.[12] [13] [14]
This is a calendar of all known official events that were administered by national, regional, provincial, state, and county lawn tennis associations in the year 1887, with player progression documented from the quarterfinals stage where historical sources have permitted.
Key
| Important.[15] [16] [17] [18] | |
| National | |
| Provincial/State/Regional | |
| County | |
| Regular |
* (denotes doubles) ** (denotes mix doubles)
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jan. | No Ladies Singles | No Ladies Doubles | |||
 Rose Tanner ** J.W. Begg 6–4, 6–0 | Hilda Hitchings R. Smith | ||||
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar. | No Ladies Singles | No Ladies Doubles | |||
| Constance Bryan ** Ernest Renshaw 6–4, 13–11 | Edith Gurney Harry Grove | ||||
| 19 March. | Southern California Championships[19] (Spring Edition) Casa Blanca Club Riverside, United States Asphalt Singles - Doubles |  Grace GillilandWon | Mrs. G. L. Waring | ||
No events
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May. | Ceylon Championships The Hill Club Nuwara Eliya, Ceylon Clay Singles - Doubles | Isa Watson 4–6, 6–1, 6–2 | Miss Bayley | ||
| 9 May. | Inter-Colonial Lawn Tennis Tournament (Championship of New South Wales) Sydney, Australia Asphalt Singles - Doubles |  EM Mayne6–4, 6–4 | C. Greene | Mabel Shaw Ada Rodd | Eliza Fitzgerald Constance Raleigh |
| Lil Scott Zilla Scott 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 | C. Greene Constance Raleigh | ||||
| C. Greene Dudley Webb 6–4, 6–2 | Eliza Fitzgerald Robert Fitzgerald | ||||
| 21 May. | West of Scotland Championships[20] Pollockshields Athletic Club Pollokshields, Scotland Grass Singles - Doubles | Julia MacKenzie 6-0 10-8 | Miss Blackburn | ||
| Julia MacKenzie Miss Robertson 6–2, 6–3 | Miss Blackburn Miss Rodger | ||||
| 28 May. | Lottie Dod 6-4, 6-3 |  Louisa Martin Lillian Watson | Connie Butler Miss McClintock Miss Exham Florence Stanuell | ||
| Louisa Martin Florence Stanuell 4–6, 6–4, 6–4 | Lillian Watson Maud Watson | ||||
| Lottie Dod Ernest Renshaw 8–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–3 | Maud Watson Harry Grove | ||||
| 30 May. | No Ladies Singles | No Ladies Doubles | |||
| Harry Barlow Miss Ripley 1–6, 6–5, 10–8 | Lucy Ripley Herbert Ripley | ||||
| 31 May. | Rotherby Invitation Rotherby Hall Estate Rotherby, England Singles - Doubles | ||||
| Mrs Jacques Effie Noon 1–6, 6–3, 6–3 | Florence Noon Miss Turner | ||||
| Florence Noon Alfred E. Thompson 6–2, 5–7, 8–6 | Effie Noon Conway John Morgan | ||||
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jun. | Championship of West of England[22] Lansdown Cricket Club Bath, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Lottie Dod 7–5, 6–4 | N. Pope Beatrice Langrishe | Margaret Bracewell Miss Hornby Lottie Paterson Miss Wilder | |
| Ann Dod Lottie Dod 10–8, 6–3 | Lillian Watson Maud Watson | ||||
| Lottie Dod James Dwight 6–4, 4–6, 6–1 | Margaret Bracewell William Renshaw– | ||||
| 4 Jun. | Whitehouse Open Whitehouse LTC Edinburgh, Scotland Clay Singles - Doubles | Mabel Boulton walkover | |||
| Dorothy Boulton Mabel Boulton 1–6, 6–4, 6–3 | A. Forest Miss Meikle | ||||
| Dorothy Boulton John Galbraith Horn 6–2, 3–6, 12–10 | Mabel Boulton Richard Millar Watson | ||||
| 11 Jun | Scottish Championships[23] Dyvour Club Edinburgh, Scotland Grass Singles - Doubles | Connie Butler 6–2, 6–2, 3–6, 8–6 | Dorothy Boulton | Miss Meikle Lottie Paterson | A. Forest Miss Moreton Jane Meikle |
| 11 Jun. | East Gloucestershire Championship Challenge Cup[24] Cheltenham LTC Grass Cheltenham, England Singles - Doubles | Louisa Martin 6–4, 5–7, 6–2 | Margaret Bracewell Florence Stanuell | Edith Davies Florence Mardall Beatrice LangrisheLillian Watson | |
| Lillian Watson Maud Watson 6–4, 6–1 | Louisa Martin Florence Stanuell | ||||
| Maud Watson John Redfern Deykin 6–4, 6–3 | Margaret Bracewell James Dwight | ||||
| 17 Jun. | Welsh Championships Penarth LTC Penarth, Wales Grass Singles - Doubles | Maud Watson 6–3, 6–3 | Miss Cockshott Lillian Watson | Clara Hill E. Stephens | |
| Lilian Watson James Baldwin 3–6, 6–2, 6–1 | Maud Watson Ernest Renshaw | ||||
| 18 Jun | London Championships[25] London Athletic Club London, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Blanche Hillyard 6–4, 6–3 | L. Murray A. Tulloch | Mrs Anderson E. Bushell Florence Renwick Lois Renwick | |
| Challenger Bernice James | |||||
| 18 Jun. | Waterloo Tournament[26] Waterloo, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Pickthall 7–5, 6–1 | M. Pick | ||
| K. Pick Jacob Gaitskill Brown 6–2, 9–7 | F. Bromfield JD Harris | ||||
| 20 Jun | Headingley Tournament[27] Headingley LTC Headingley, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Beatrice Wood 6–3, 6–2 | G. Harrison | ||
| 25 Jun. | Lottie Dod 6–1, 6–2 | May Langrishe Florence Stanuell | Connie Butler Edith Davies Florence Mardall Louisa Martin | ||
| Challenger Maud Watson | |||||
| Ann Dod Lottie Dod 6–4, 2–6, 6–3 | Louisa Martin Florence Stanuell | ||||
| Louisa Martin Tom Campion 8–6, 6–3 | Lottie Dod Harry Grove | ||||
| 25 Jun. | Kent All-Comers' Championships[28] Beckenham LTC Beckenham, England Grass Singles - Doubles | No Ladies Singles | No Ladies Doubles | ||
| Miss Barlow Harry Sibthorpe Barlow 7–5, 4–6, 6–1 | May Jacks HC Yockney | ||||
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul | Mabel Grant 6–4, 6–3 | L. Button | |||
| 2 Jul. | Midland Counties Championships Edgbaston CLTC Edgbaston, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Margaret Bracewell 6-0 4-6 7-5 | Miss Mardall | Eva Steedman Mary Steedman | |
| Margaret Bracewell Florence Mardall 6-4 7-5 | Bertha Steedman Mary Steedman | ||||
| Margaret Bracewell John Redfern Deykin 6-4 11-9 | Bertha Steedman Percy Bateman Brown | ||||
| 7 Jul. | Lottie Dod 6–2, 6–0 | Edith Cole | AM Chambers Julia Mackenzie FM Pearson J Shackle | ||
| Challenger Blanche Hillyard | |||||
| 9 Jul. | Chapel Allerton LTC Tournament Chapel Allerton LTC Chapel Allerton, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Beatrice Wood 6–3, 5–6, 6–5 | Lilla Moir | ||
| M. Crossley Beatrice Wood 4–6, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4, 7–5 | Lilla Moir E. Tannett | ||||
| 14 Jul. | Leamington Open Tournament Leamington Spa, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Evelyn Blencowe 6–1, 6–1 | |||
| Margaret Bracewell James Dwight 6-4 4-6 6-0 | Mrs Hornby AD Annesley | ||||
| 16 Jul. | Leicester Open Lawn Tennis Tournament Leicester, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Margaret Bracewell 6–4, 6–2 | Florence Noon Florence Mardall | Miss Forsbroke Agnes Noon Watts | |
| N. Pope Agnes Noon Watts 6–5, 6–5 | Margaret Bracewell Miss Forsbroke | ||||
| Margaret Bracewell Ernest Lewis 6–1, 6–1 | Florence Noon CP Brett | ||||
| Armagh Lawn Tennis Tournament[30] Archery LTC Armagh, Ireland Asphalt Singles - Doubles | Doireann Boyle 6–3, 6–2 | Lavinia Chambers | |||
| Lavinia Chambers Rory Maunsell 2–0 sets | Doireann Boyle Harold Hardyman | ||||
| 21 Jul | Taunton and West Somerset Lawn Tennis Tournament Taunton, England Grass Singles - Doubles | N. Pope 6–1, 6–1 | A.M. Meyler | ||
| Alice Bagnall-Wild N. Pope 6–4, 6–1 | Miss Escott Miss Gilling-Lax | ||||
| Norton Lawn Tennis Open Tournament Norton Cricket Club Grounds Norton, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Marley 6–5, 6–1 | Katharine Faithfull | Elizabeth Faithfull Ellinor Page | Miss Bolckow Ethel Cochrane Catherine Faithfull Miss Page | |
| 23 Jul. | Middlesex Championships Chiswick, England Grass Singles - Doubles | D Patterson 6–0, 4–6, 7–5 | Miss Canning Jemima Gray | Beatrice James May Jacks Miss Isabel Monckton Margaret Rundall | |
| Miss Gray Lottie Paterson 6–4, 6–1 | May Jacks B James | ||||
| Blanche Hillyard George Hillyard 6–1, 6–0 | May Jacks | ||||
| Ealing LTC Championship Ealing LTC Ealing, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Charlotte Cooper 6–4, 5–7, 6–4 | Alice Brown | Edith Gurney Bertha Steedman | ||
| Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Tournament Stafford Institute LTC Stafford, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Effie Noon 2–6, 6–2, 8–6 | Miss Crofton | |||
| Effie Noon CP Brett 6–3, 1–6, 6–3 | Frederick Watts Agnes Noon Watts | ||||
| 30 Jul | Northumberland County Association Tournament. Newcastle, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Connie Butler 4–6, 6–2, 8–6 | Alice Cheese A. Reay | Mrs R. Clayton Helen Jackson L. Wilson | |
| Helen Jackson John Charles Kay | Miss Bradshaw Herbert Wilberforce | ||||
| Portishead Open Lawn Tennis Tournament Portishead, England Grass Singles - Doubles | No Ladies Singles | ||||
| Miss Bryant Winifred Parr 6–0, 6–3 | Miss Reynolds F. Smith | ||||
| > Alice Parr Ernest Renshaw walkover | Miss Stock J.C. Prior | ||||
| Derbyshire Championships Buxton, England Grass Singles - Doubles | May Langrishe 6–3, 6–4 | Margaret Bracewell Beatrice Langrishe | Katherine Hill Eva Steedman Mary Steedman Beatrice Wood | ||
| Lottie Dod May Langrishe 6–1, 6–2 | Gertrude Bracewell Margaret Bracewell | ||||
| Lottie Dod James Dwight 6–4, 4–6, 6–2 | |||||
| Brenda James 6–8, 6–0, 6–3 | May Jacks | Clara Hill Florence Thompson | |||
| Brenda James 6–8, 6–2, 6–4 | May Jacks | Clara Hill Florence Thompson | |||
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 August | White Sulphur Springs Tournament White Sulphur Springs, United States Singles - Doubles | Margie Pettet Won | Mary Cullen | Miss Coggill Mrs Pettit | |
| 2 Aug | East of Ireland Championships[33] Howth LTC Howth, Ireland Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Smith 6–2, 6–4 | C. McClintock | G. Crofton E. Lindsay | P. Costello Mrs Graham E. Knox Maud Scovell |
| G. Crofton Maxwell J. Carpendale 7–5, 6–4 | Maud Scovell Cameron Deane Shute | ||||
| 5 Aug | Darlington Association Tournament[34] Darlington, England Singles - Doubles | Helen Jackson walkover | M. Cheese | ||
| Ann Dod Helen Jackson 6–1, 6–3 | Connie Butler Miss Marley | ||||
| Connie Butler Herbert Wilberforce 6–4, 6–4 | Ann Dod John Galbraith Horn | ||||
| 6 Aug | Exmouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament[35] Exmouth LTC Exmouth, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Blanche Hillyard 6–4, 6–4 | Constance Bryan Lilian Watson | Georgina Kindersley Beatrice Langrishe Effie Noon | |
| Miss Noon James Baldwin 6–4, 2–6, 6–4 | Blanche Hillyard George Hillyard | ||||
| East Grinstead Lawn Tennis Tournament[36] East Grinstead, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Cobbold 6–3, 6–3 | ||||
| Miss Cobbold William N. Cobbold 6–1, 4–6, 6–4 | May Arbuthnot William J. Down | ||||
| Nottinghamshire LTA Tournament[37] Trent Bridge Ground Nottingham, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Frances Snook 6–3, 6–1 | G. Johnson | LB Snook Sybil Speed | A. Herbert Jane Snook | |
| Louise Snook Herbert D. Snook 4–6, 6–2 retd. | Miss Wadsworth J. Douglas | ||||
| P. Knox 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 | T. Knox | ||||
| 8 Aug | Ilkley Open Tournament[39] Ilkley LTC Ilkley, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Beatrice Wood 3–6, 7–5, 6–1 | L. Chatterton-Clarke | ||
| 12 Aug. | Kilkenny County and City Tournament[40] Kilkenny, Ireland Grass Singles - Doubles | Jennie Power 6–8, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 7–5 | E. McCheane | ||
| Miss Rotheram Plunkett Greene 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 | A.F. Gregory Francis Slade-Gully | ||||
| 13 Aug | Teignmouth and Shaldon Open[41] East Devon & Teignmouth LTC Teignmouth, England Grass Singles - Doubles | No Ladies Singles | No Ladies Double | ||
| Maud Watson Ernest Wool Lewis 6–2, 6–0 | Beatrice Langrishe Wilfred Milne | ||||
| Hull Westbourne Avenue Open Tournament[42] Hull, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Constance Hodgson 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 | Angel Smith | |||
| 20 Aug | Yorkshire Association and County Open Tournament[43] West Cliff LTC Whitby, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Margaret Bracewell 4–6, 6–2, 6–0 | M. Crossley | Mabel Boulton A. Turner | L. Chatterton-Clarke Florence Mardall A.S. Petrie Beatrice Wood |
| Challenger Ethel Atkinson | |||||
| Margaret Bracewell Florence Mardall 6–2, 6–4 | Ethel Atkinson Ella Rawlinson | ||||
| Margaret Bracewell FJ Hirst 8–6, 6–3 | G. Walters M. Pole | ||||
| Yorkshire Association County Closed TournamentYorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer (22 August 1887) West Cliff LTC Whitby, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Beatrice Wood 7–5, 5–7, 6–0 | ||||
| Torquay Lawn Tennis Tournament[44] Torquay LTC Torquay, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Blanche Hillyard 4–6, 6–2, 6–3 | E. Parson Mrs Last-Smith | Miss Challenor Miss Newland Miss Tickell | ||
| Maud Watson Ernest Wool Lewis 6–0, 6–2 | Miss Tickell Wilfred Milne | ||||
| South Saxons Open Tournament[45] Glynde Park Grass St Leonards-on-Sea, England Singles - Doubles | C. Smith 6–5, 6–2 | E. King | |||
| 24 Aug | South of Scotland Championships[46] Beechgrove LTC Moffat, Scotland Grass Singles - Doubles | Ann Dod 6–2, 6–4 | |||
| Ann Dod Lottie Paterson 6–3, 6–2 | Miss Meikle L. Murray | ||||
| Ann Dod Richard Millar Watson 6-2, 6–1 | Lottie Paterson BH Smith | ||||
| 25 Aug | Saxmundham LTC Tournament[47] Hurts Hall Park Saxmundham, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Kate Barkley 6–2, 6–4 | |||
| J. Bond L. Davy 3–6, 6–2, 6–3 | E. Henderson G. Henderson | ||||
| Edith Austin Benjamin A. Cohen 6–5, 6–2 | Kate Barkley TK Norman | ||||
| 27 Aug | North of England Championships[48] South Cliff LTC Scarborough, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Margaret Bracewell 6–0, 6–1 | Florence Mardall Mary Steedman | Connie Butler Mabel Boulton Miss Clark B. Hopkinson | |
| Bertha Steedman Mary Steedman 5–7, 6–1, 6–2 | Margaret Bracewell Florence Mardall | ||||
| Margaret Bracewell Harry Grove 6–2, 4–6, 6–2 | Mary Steedman F Bradbury | ||||
| 30 Aug | Bournemouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament[49] Dean Park Bournemouth, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Constance Bryan 6–1, 6–3 | Mrs Hornby Mrs Surman | M. Champneys H. Mellersh A. McWilliam Miss Urquhart | |
| Constance Bryan Beatrice Langrishe 6–1, 6–3 | Miss Elphinstone Mrs Surman | ||||
| Constance Bryan Ernest Wool Lewis 6–3, 6–3, 6–4 | Beatrice Langrishe Ernest Renshaw | ||||
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Sep. | Southern California Championships (Fall Edition) Santa Monica Casino Courts Santa Monica, United States Asphalt Singles - Doubles | Miss Schumacher Won | Miss Dexter | ||
| 5 Sep | Singapore LTC Ladies Championship Singapore LTC Singapore, Straits Settlements Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Denny's 6–1, 6–2 | Mrs. Bentley | Mrs. Dare | |
| 6 Sep | South of England Championships Devonshire Park LTC Eastbourne, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Margaret Bracewell 6–1, 6–3 | Florence Mardall Laura Triscott | E. Malcolm E. Monckton Mrs Kate Tullock Alice Strapp | |
| Edith Gurney Blanche Hillyard 6–4, 6–3 | Margaret Bracewell Florence Mardall | ||||
| Margaret Bracewell Ernest Wool Lewis 6–4, 8–6 | Elizabeth Mocatta/ Harry Stone | ||||
| 20 Sep | New Hamburg Invitation[50] New Hamburg LTC New Hamburg, United States Grass Singles - Doubles | May Colby Won | Sadie Steele | Anna Kerr | |
| 24 Sep | New York Tennis Club Fall Open New York TC New York City, United States Clay Singles - Doubles | Miss Smallwood 6–4, 1–6, 6–2 | Miss Grundy | Miss Tisdale Miss Voorhoes | |
| 27 Sep | Wissahickon Open Philadelphia Cricket Club Wissahickon, United States Grass Singles - Doubles | Nellie Hansel Won | ? | ||
| 30 Sep. | U.S. National Championships Philadelphia Country Club Philadelphia, United States Grass Singles | Ellen Hansell 6-1, 6-0 | Helen Day Harris Alice Janney | Louise Allerdice Ruth Cott Jessie Harding | |
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Oct | Ladies Club for Outdoor Sports Open[51] Livingston, United States Singles - Doubles | Adeline Robinson 6–0, 6–1 | Mrs AH Harris | Mary Fellowes-Morgan | Miss Trowbridge Miss Voorhoes |
| Adeline Robinson Kitty Smith 6–2, 6–2 | Mary Fellowes-Morgan Violet Ward | ||||
| 15 Oct | Fall Open Far and Near[52] Far and Near LTC Hastings-on-Hudson, United States Grass Singles - Doubles | Adeline Robinson 6–0, 6–4 | May Colby Miss Smallwood | G. Fraser Miss Lent Miss Reese G. W. Roosevelt | |
| 17 Oct | Delaware Field Club Open[53] Delaware Field Club Wilmington, United States Clay Singles - Doubles | Bertha Townsend 6–4, 6–4 | Ellen Hansell | Miss Duffield Catherine Pyle | |
| 26 Oct | Mabel Shaw 6–2, 6–3 | Nellie A. Beckett Miss Fincham | |||
| Mabel Shaw Phenie Shaw | Nellie A'Beckett Eliza Fitzgerald | ||||
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Dec | New Zealand Championships[55] Christchurch, New Zealand Grass Singles - Doubles | Eveleen Harman 6–4, 7–9, 6–1 | Ruth Orbell | E Harman Mrs G Way | Miss Campbell Mrs George Miss Orbell Miss Temple |
| E Gordon Eveleen Harman 6–3, 6–1 | Miss Orbell Ruth Orbell | ||||
| Hilda Hitchings EP Hudson 6–3, 6–1 | Sarah Lance HB Williams | ||||
This is a list of winners by the total number of singles titles won for 1887 major titles in bold:
Margaret Bracewell – Eastbourne, Edgbaston, Leicester, Scarborough, Whitby, (5) Adeline Robinson – Hastings-on-Hudson, Livingston, (2) Connie Butler – Edinburgh, Newcastle upon Tyne, (2) Ellen Hansell – U.S. National Championships, (1) Miss Mowbray – Auckland, (1) EM Mayne – Sydney, (1) Louisa Martin – Cheltenham, (1) Mabel Shaw – Melbourne, (1) Margie Pettet – White Sulphur Springs, (1) Doireann Boyle – Armagh, (1) May Langrishe – Buxton, (1) Grace Gilliland – Riverside, (1) Evelyn Blencowe – Leamington Spa, (1) Nora Pope – Taunton, (1) Miss Smallwood – New York City, (1) Charlotte Cooper – Ealing, (1) Eveleen Harman – Christchurch, (1) Miss Schumacher – Santa Monica, (1) Miss Cobbold – East Grinstead, (1) Nellie Hansel – Wissahickon, (1) Frances Snook – Nottingham, (1) C. Smith – St Leonards-on-Sea, (1) Kate Barkley – Saxmundham, (1) P. Knox – Waterford, (1) Jennie Power – Kilkenny, (1) Constance Hodgson – Hull, (1) E. Bathgate – Dunedin, (1). Bud Collins. The Bud Collins History of Tennis. 2010. New Chapter Press. New York. 978-0942257700. 2nd. 453–454, 465, 476.