Sydney Howard Smith Explained

Sydney Smith
Fullname:Sydney Howard Smith
Country: United Kingdom
Birth Date:1872 2, df=yes
Birth Place:Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK
Death Place:Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK
Turnedpro:1891 (amateur tour)
Retired:1906
Plays:Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Singlesrecord:318–56 (85.03%)[1]
Singlestitles:52[2]
Highestsinglesranking:3
Wimbledonresult:F (1899, 1900Ch, 1905)
Usopenresult:2R (1904)
Othertournaments:yes
Wimbledondoublesresult:W (1902, 1906)
Team:yes
Daviscupresult:W (1905, 1906)

Sydney Howard Smith (3 February 1872 – 27 March 1947) was a British tennis and badminton player.

Career

Sydney Smith was the first All England Badminton Men's Singles champion in 1900. He reached his first Wimbledon singles final in 1899, beating Herbert Roper Barrett in an epic five set semi final before losing the all comers final to Arthur Gore in four sets.[3] In 1900 Smith beat Gore in the all comers final at Wimbledon, before losing to Reginald Doherty in the challenge round in four sets. In 1905, Smith beat Holcombe Ward, Wilberforce Eaves, William Larned and Major Ritchie before losing the all comers final in five sets to Norman Brookes.[3] Smith and partner Frank Riseley won the Gentlemen's Doubles title at Wimbledon in 1902 and 1906. He was a member of the British Davis Cup team in 1905 and 1906.

His other career highlights included winning the Welsh Championships singles title ten times (1896–1906), the Midland Counties Championships at Edgbaston nine times from (1896–1898, 1900–1905), the Northern Championships singles title seven consecutive times (1899–1905) and the Sussex Championships six times (1899–1902, 1904–1905), the Burton-on-Trent Open three times (1897–1899).[4]

The Mixed Doubles Trophy, a silver challenge cup and cover presented to the winners of the mixed doubles at Wimbledon, was gifted to the All England Club by Smith's family.[5]

Grand Slam finals

Doubles: 5 (2 titles, 3 runners-up)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreRef.
Win Grass 4–6, 8–6, 6–3, 4–6, 11–9 [7]
Loss Grass 4–6, 4–6, 4–6
Loss Grass 1–6, 2–6, 4–6
Loss Grass 2–6, 4–6, 8–6, 3–6
Win Grass 6–8, 6–4, 5–7, 6–3, 6–3

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sydney Howard Smith: Career match record. thetennisbase.com. The Tennis Base. 19 October 2017.
  2. Web site: Sydney Howard Smith: Stats. tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 10 August 2016.
  3. Web site: Wimbledon player archive – Sidney Smith . AELTC.
  4. News: LAWN TENNIS. BURTON-ON-TRENT OPEN TOURNAMENT. A three day.'The tournament concluded on Wednesday, the following being the principal results; — GENTLEMEN'S SINGLES. S. H. Smith (Holder for past two years) beat S. B. Allen, 6-1. 6-0. . Nottinghamshire Guardian . British Newspaper Archives . 29 July 1899 . Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England . 8.
  5. Web site: Trophies. All England Lawn Tennis Club. 18 January 2023.
  6. Web site: Wimbledon Rolls of Honour / Gentlemen's Singles. 2015-10-16. Wimbledon official tournament website.
  7. Web site: Wimbledon Rolls of Honour / Gentlemen's Doubles. 2015-10-16. Wimbledon official tournament website.