![]() William Renshaw won most titles this year | |
Details | |
---|---|
Duration | 19 April – 10 November |
Edition | 6th |
Tournaments | 65 (Amateur) |
Categories | Important (5 ) National (2) Provincial/Regional/State (6) County (5) Local/other (47) |
Achievements (singles) | |
Most tournament titles | ![]() |
Most tournament finals | ![]() |
← 1880 1882 → |
The 1881 Men's tennis tour [1] [2] was composed of the sixth annual pre-open era tour now incorporated 65 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 won two other big tournaments of the year, 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.
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 |
No events
Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 April. [10] | North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament (First Meeting) Drayton Park Kettering Northamptonshire ? Singles Doubles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ||
19–23 April. [11] | Cheltenham Covered Court Championships Imperial Winter Gardens Cheltenham, England Indoor Wood Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 8-6 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Date | Tournament | Winner | All Comers' Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
23–29 May | Irish Lawn Tennis Championships [12] Dublin, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 1-6 6-4 6-3 6-1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Challenge round![]() | |||||
![]() ![]() 6-4, 7-5 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
31 May. [lower-alpha 1] [13] | St.George's Hill Tournament St. George's Hill LTC Weybridge, Surrey, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 3 sets to 0 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarter finalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
June. [14] | Oxford University Champion Tournament Norham Gardens, Oxford, Great Britain Grass Singles – Doubles | ![]() 6-4, 8-6, 6-2 | ![]() | ||
June. [lower-alpha 2] [15] [16] [17] | Leicester Lawn Tennis Club Tournament Aylestone Park Leicester, Great Britain ? Singles | ? ? | ? | ? ? ? ? | ? |
30 May–4 June. [lower-alpha 3] [18] | Cambridge University Tournament Cambridge University LTC Cambridge, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() ? ![]() ? | ![]() ? ![]() Bye ![]() ? ![]() ? |
1–5 June | West of England Championships [4] Bath, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 5-6 6-5 6-3 | ![]() | ![]() Bye ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() Bye |
5-10June | Worcester Park Challenge Cup. Worcester, Worcestershire, England Grass | ![]() ? | ![]() | ||
6–12 June | Waterloo Tournament [19] Liverpool, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-0 6-0 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
6–12 June | Princes Club Championships [20] London, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 7-5 4-6 6-0 6-3 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
6–12 June | Essex Championships [21] Brentwood, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-0 6-4 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() 6-3 6-1 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
16–18 June. [22] [23] | Liverpool Cricket Club Lawn Tennis Tournament Liverpool Cricket Club Aigburth, Liverpool, England Grass Singles | ![]() 6-0, 6-0 | ![]() | ||
20–26 June | Northern Championships [24] ![]() Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-1 6-1 6-0 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Challenge round![]() | |||||
Date | Tournament | Winner | All comers' finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 June–1 July. [25] | Rochester Open The Paddock King's School, Rochester, Kent, England Grass Singles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ||
2–13 July | Wimbledon Championship [26] London, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6–0, 6–1, 6–1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Challenge round![]() | |||||
11–17 July | Scottish Championships [27] Edinburgh, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-1 6-5 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
12 July. [29] [30] | Championship of the Esher LTC. Esher Lawn Tennis Club Esher, Surrey, England Grass | ![]() 6-5, 6-5, 6-1 | ![]() | ||
12 July. | Bedfordshire LTC Tournament North Beds Lawn Tennis Club Blunhem House, Fairfield, Bedfordshire, England Grass | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
16 July. [31] | Woodford Parish Championship County Cricket Ground Woodford Parish, England Grass Singles | ![]() 2 sets to 0 | ![]() R.C. Ball | ? | |
15–16 July | Staffordshire County Cricket Club Lawn Tennis Tournament. [32] Lichfield, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-4, 2-6, 6-5 | ![]() | ||
17–20 July [33] | Alliance LTC Championship Crouch End Hill, Crouch End, London, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() ? | ? | ||
20-23 July. [34] | North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament (Second Meeting) Grafton Underwood North Northamptonshire ? Singles Doubles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Challenge round![]() | |||||
18–24 July | Canadian Championships [35] Toronto, Canada Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6–2, 6–2 | ![]() | ? | |
18–24 July | Edgbaston Open Tournament Edgbaston, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-3 6-1 6-4 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
25–30 July | London Athletic Club Tournament Fulham, London, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-1 4-6 6-2 6-3 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
30 July. | Harrow Lawn Tennis Club Tournament. Harrow Lawn Tennis Club Harrow, Middlesex, England Grass | ![]() 2 sets to 1 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
25–30 July | Norwich Open Tournament. Chapelfield Gardens Norwich, Norfolk England ? | ![]() 6-2 6-4 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
25–31 July | Dundalk Tournament [36] Dundalk, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() def. | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarter finalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
August. [37] | Tivyside LTC Tournament Tivyside Lawn Tennis Club Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, Wales Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() ? | |||
August | Hexham Tournament Hexham, Northumberland, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-0, 6-0, 6-2 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
August | Hampstead Cricket Club Tennis Tournament Hampstead, Middlesex, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 3 sets to 1 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() |
1–6 August | Darlington Open Tournament Darlington, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-0 4-6 6-2 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() 9-7, 6-3 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
1–7 August | South of Ireland Championships Limerick, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 0-6 6-3 7-5 8-6 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
2–4 August. [38] | Cirencester Park Lawn Tennis Tournament Earl Bathurst Estate Cirencester Park Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ||
2-6 August | County Kildare Championship [39] Naas, Ireland Outdoor Grass Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() ? ![]() ? | ![]() ? ![]() ![]() ![]() |
2–7 August | Waterford Tournament Waterford, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-2 6-3 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
8–13 August | North of Ireland Championships Belfast, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 2-1 (sets) | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() 2-1 ![]() ![]() |
8–14 August | Downshire Lawn Tennis Tournament Downshire Archery and Lawn Tennis Club Cliftonville Cricket Club Ground, Belfast, Great Britain Outdoor Grass | ![]() 5-2,5-1 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() 5-1 5-0 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
9–12 August | Exmouth Open [40] Exmouth, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-3 1-6 6-4 | ![]() | ![]() Bye ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
9–12 August | Teignmouth and Shaldon Tournament [40] Teignmouth, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 5-6 6-1 6-0 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
14–15 August. [lower-alpha 4] [41] | Maidstone Tournament Maidstone Athletic Ground Maidstone, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() walkover | ![]() | ||
18-19 August. [42] | Rochford Hundred Club Lawn Tennis Tournament Rochford Hundred Club Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-3, 4-6, 6-5 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
22-26 August | Westgate-on-Sea Tournament Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, England Outdoor Hard (Asphalt) Singles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
26–30 August | South Wales Championships Tenby LTC Tenby, Carmarthenshire, Wales Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-2, 6-5, 9-7 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
29 August-4 September | Victoria Park Lawn Tennis Tournament [40] Exeter, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-3 7-5 | ![]() | ![]() ? ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
29-30 August | Abbot's Court Tournament Winterborne Kingston, Dorset, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-3 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
30-31 August. | Holt Lawn Tennis Club Tournament Holt LTC Holt, Norfolk, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 2 sets to 1 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
31 August | Gore Court Championships Sittingbourne, Gore Court Archery and LTC Gore Court, Sittingbourne, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ||
31 August - 3 September | U.S. National Championships [43] Newport Casino, Newport, Rhode Island, United States Outdoor Grass Singles Doubles | ![]() 6-0 6-3 6-2 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() 6-5 6-4 6-5 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September. | Skipton Tournament Craven Lawn Tennis Club (f.1879)? Gargrave, Skipton, North Yorkshire, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
30 Aug–3 Sept. [44] [45] | Aldershot Division Open Lawn Tennis Tournament Aldershot Divisional LTC Aldershot Garrison, Hampshire, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6–4, 1–6, 6–5 | ![]() | ? | ? | ||
29 August-4 Sept | Victoria Park Lawn Tennis Tournament Victoria Park Exeter, Devon, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-3 7-5 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
5–6 September. [46] | Vale of Clwyd CLTC Open Tournament Vale of Clwyd LTC Ruthin, Vale of Clwyd, Wales Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 5-2 5-4 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
12–18 September. | South of England Championships Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-4 6-2 6-0 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
13–17 September. [lower-alpha 5] | Torquay Lawn Tennis Tournament [47] Winter Gardens Torquay, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
15–17 September. [lower-alpha 6] | Saint Leonards-on-Sea Lawn Tennis Tournament [48] St Leonards-on-Sea, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-3 6-5 6-5 | ![]() | ||||
19 September. | White Rose York Tournament Gentleman's Cricket Ground York, Yorkshire, England Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6-4 6-5 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ||
19–24 September. [lower-alpha 7] | East Gloucestershire Championships Cheltenham, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles | ![]() 6–0, 6–1, 6–1 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ||
Challenge round![]() | |||||||
24-25 September. [49] | Truro LTC Open Tournament Truro, Cricket Club Truro, Cornwall, England Grass | ![]() ? | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
26 September-2 October. [50] | Bournemouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament (later Hampshire Championships) Bournemouth, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-2 6-3 6-0 | ![]() | ||||
Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3–10 October | Armagh ALTC Tournament [51] Armagh, Northern Ireland Outdoor Hard Singles | ![]() 2-0 (sets) | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Challenge round![]() | |||||
3–10 October. [52] | Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Tournament Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Queen's Park, Brighton, East Sussex, England Grass | ![]() 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
4–10 October | Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament Brighton, Great Britain Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 2-6 6-2 6-0 6-1 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() 6-3, 6-1 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
24–30 October | St. George's Cricket Club Tournament New York, United States Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | ![]() 7-5 6-2 6-3 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4–10 November | Victorian Championships [53] Melbourne Cricket Ground Melbourne, Australia Outdoor Hard Singles - Doubles | ![]() 6-4 4-6 6-1 6-1 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
No events
Note: important tournaments in bold
Source: The Concise History of Tennis
Karoly Mazak World Rankings for 1881 [54] | ||||
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# | Player | |||
1 | ![]() | |||
2 | ![]() | |||
3 | ![]() | |||
4 | ![]() | |||
5 | ![]() | |||
6 | ![]() | |||
7 | ![]() | |||
8 | ![]() |
The inaugural 1877 Men's tennis tour was composed of five tournaments for the second edition pre-open era tour. Before the birth of Open Era (tennis), most tournaments were reserved for amateur athletes. In 1874 British Major Walter Clopton Wingfield patented with the House of London Crafts the invention of a new game, which consisted of a shaped field hourglass, divided in the middle by a suspended net. The game was packaged in a box containing some balls, four paddles, the net components and the signs to mark the field. The game was based on the rules of the old real tennis and, at the suggestion of Arthur Balfour, was called lawn-tennis. The official date of birth of the court would be February 23, 1874. In 1877 all were amateur tournaments, among them was the first 1877 Wimbledon Championship, the inaugural event was held from 9 to 19 July and saw as the inaugural winner Spencer Gore. The tournament would remain for a period of 35 years the sole major tennis tournament in the world until the International Lawn Tennis Federation introduces its three World championship series events in 1913 that continue until 1923, when the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association only agrees to join the ILTF on the basis of two compromises: the title 'World Championships' would be abolished and wording would be 'for ever in the English language'. Wimbledon would still retain its prestigious and historical status, and become one of the four Grand Slam tennis events from 1924.
The 1878 Men's tennis tour was composed of the third annual pre-open era tour. It now incorporated 15 tournaments staged in Great Britain and Ireland the Wimbledon championships was won by challenger Patrick Francis Hadow defeating the defending champion Spencer Gore.
The 1879 Men's tennis tour was composed of the fourth annual pre-open era tour and incorporated 26 tournaments. The 1879 Wimbledon Championships was won by John Hartley defending champion Patrick Francis Hadow, defending champion could not participate in the Challenge Round. This year saw the inaugural Irish Championships that in its early stages of development was considered as important that of the Wimbledon Championships the event was won by Vere St. Leger Goold who defeated in Charles David Barry in the final by Charles David Barry 8–6, 8–6. Important this year was the staging of six hard court tournaments some of which included the Dublin University Championships the East Gloucestershire Championships held in Cheltenham Great Britain, Nice Tennis Tournament in Nice, France and the first tournament to be held outside of Europe in Australia with the Victorian Championships.
The 1880 Men's tennis tour was the fifth amateur tennis tour held that year. It now incorporated 41 tournaments staged in Australia, Great Britain and Ireland and the United States. The 1880 Wimbledon Championships was won by John Hartley against Herbert Lawford, in the Challenge Round.
The 1882 Men's tennis tour was composed of the seventh annual pre-open era tour and now incorporated 67 events. The Wimbledon Championships and Irish Championships was won by William Renshaw, the U.S. National Championships was won by Richard Sears collecting his second title other big winners were Richard Taswell Richardson picking up the Northern Lawn Tennis Championships and Ernest Renshaw winning the Princes Club Championships, The title leader this season was Robert W. Braddell winning 4 tournaments from 6 finals.
Harry Grove was a British tennis player in the early years of tennis.
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The Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament was an early men's tennis tournament held from 1880 to 1885. It consisted of a spring tournament usually held in April and another held in autumn usually September. It was a forerunner event for the later Sussex Championships formally called the Sussex County Championships that were first staged in 1889 and are still being staged today.
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The Midland Counties Championships was a grass court tennis tournament held at Edgbaston Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club, Edgbaston, Great Britain from 1882 to 1977.
The Fall Open Tournament Far and Near LTC | was a late 19th-century men's grass court tennis tournament held at the Far and Near Lawn Tennis Club in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, United States. It was part of the Pre-Open era tennis tour from 1883 to 1886.
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The Essex County Cricket Club Tournament was an early men's grass court tennis tournament held initially at Knighton, Essex in England in 1879 and finally at Leyton in 1888.
The County Kildare Open Tennis Championship originally known as the County Kildare Tennis Tournament (1879-1880) then County Kildare Championship is grass court tennis tournament held initially at Naas, County Kildare, in Ireland, established on 2 August 1881.
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The 1887 Men's tennis tour was composed of the eleventh annual pre-open era tour incorporating 126 tournaments.
The Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Tournament was an early men's tennis tournament held from 1880 through 1885.
The Warwickshire Championships also known as the Warwickshire County Championships founded on 1 August 1882 was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament held at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England from 1882 to 1938 as part of the pre-open era tennis tour. The tournament is still being staged to today as a local county championship.
The Victoria Park Lawn Tennis Tournament also called the Victoria Park LTC Tournament was an early Victorian era men's and women's grass court tennis tournament first staged in June 1881 at the Victoria Park Lawn Tennis Club, Exeter, Devon, England. It was staged only four times until 1884.
The Bedford Open also known as the Bedford Lawn Tennis Open Tournament was men's and women's grass court tennis tournament established in 1880 as the Bedfordshire LTC Tournament. It was held at the Bedford Lawn Tennis Club, Bedford, Berkshire, England and ran through until 1974 when it was abolished.